5,430 market vendors have now received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

5,430 market vendors out of 5,637 in the Municipal Markets have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar says this means 96.3% have received the first dose while approximately 44% of the vendors are now fully vaccinated.

Kumar says around 207 market vendors are yet to be vaccinated and by virtue of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 2021, these vendors will not be permitted entry into the Municipal Markets until they are vaccinated.

She says 100% of permanent vendors of the Nasinu, Ba, Sigatoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva and Lami Markets have received their first dose of the vaccine.

The Minister says there is an inherent need to ensure that our market vendors and their families are safe and those who visit the market are safe too.

In relation to the circulation of fake vaccination cards to bypass the mandatory vaccination, Kumar says the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Councils are working with the Ministry of Communications on the Digital Vaccination Verification program for the market vendors.

She says this VAX-Check tool will allow market attendants to verify the vaccination status of all the market vendors and the shoppers entering the markets.