500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by New Zealand expected to arrive in 3 months

The 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines provided by New Zealand is expected to arrive within the next three months.

New Zealand will also be donating around $3 million to support vaccine preparedness and rollout.

This was highlighted by the New Zealand Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth Phil Twyford during the NZ-Fiji Business Council Meeting.

Twyford says in the last few weeks New Zealand has provided emergency assistance worth over NZ$500,000 to support Fiji in containing the immediate effects of the outbreak.

The New Zealand Government has also offered a grant contribution of approximately $60 million in budget support and Twyford says they are well aware that more must be done to support Fiji.

He adds as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated, they will be in a position to begin conversations with other Pacific neighbours including Fiji on quarantine-free travel arrangements when the time is right.

Twyford says whatever the timeframe for reopening, their priority will always be keeping the New Zealand and Pacific people safe.