50% of the target population get first dose but Dr Fong puzzled by those resisting to get the vaccine

50% of the target population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca but Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong is puzzled by some people resisting to get the vaccine.

Doctor Fong says there will always be lone voices sowing doubt, some citing what they believe is their own superior insight or even some revelation from God.

But he says as a man of faith, he believes that he and the doctors and nurses he leads have a God-given purpose to protect life.

He believes that God gave them the ability to develop treatments for disease, and this vaccine has the overwhelming endorsement of the worldwide medical, scientific and religious communities.

Doctor Fong says it is helping countries open up around the world, and it will help us do the same.

He says those who refuse to vaccinate themselves do so at their own risk and at the risk of others.

The Permanent Secretary says he cannot say it more plainly than that, and he thanks the heads of the faith who are being vaccinated and encouraging others to do the same.

He says they are rolling out vaccines at a rate that surpasses most high income countries but their mission is not yet achieved.

Doctor Fong says their goal is to make a vaccine available to every eligible adult in Fiji and to have those Fijians all accept this safe and effective protection.

He says he is truly puzzled by the pockets of resistance to this vaccine among some people when they know that vaccines have prevented the spread of dangerous diseases for literally centuries.

The Permanent Secretary says this is a new vaccine because it is combatting a new disease, so every vaccine is new, yet the process of vaccination is time-tested and safe.

He says in the last year, they had successful vaccination campaigns in Fiji to combat outbreaks of measles and Men-C.

Doctor Fong also says this virus arrives in waves.

He says they expect the next wave will arrive in four to five days from now and the Health Ministry expects it will be the most severe yet.

Doctor Fong says while the indicators tell us to expect more fatalities in the coming weeks, the science and the experience of other nations tell us that many thousands of lives can still be saved.

He says the science behind how this virus spreads tells us that masks, physical distance, and handwashing, can work together to slow the spread.

Doctor Fong says the science behind vaccines tells us this protection works extremely well against this variant and our progress in protecting Fijians through vaccines shows us that we are well on our way back to a version of normalcy.