Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says as of 14th of September 577,005 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 363,420 have received their second doses.
This means that 97.5% of the target population have received at least one dose and 61.9% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.
Dr Fong says over the last two weeks, the team has been validating its data to ensure that the level of protection across Viti Levu is equitably distributed.
He further says they are currently validating areas of concern and will be outlining further measures to reduce the risk that travellers will place on these areas of concern.
Dr Fong adds they will also be reviewing other restrictions currently in place and a formal announcement will be made today on the lifting of borders and other measures.
Dr Fong says until this announcement is made all current measures remain in force.
The Health Ministry says the eligible children’s 1st dose vaccination is planned for rollout from Monday 20th September 2021 and the 2nd dose from Monday 18th October 2021.
Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says working with the Ministry of Education, they will begin with children in the age group of 15 to 17 years.
Dr Fong says a stringent process is in place to ensure that parental or guardian consent is secured and online registration is encouraged before vaccination.
Dr Fong reiterates that no vaccine will be given without the consent of parents or guardians.
The Ministry has set aside the required number of vials of vaccine to ensure that the target population between 15 to 17-year-old can receive both doses of the vaccine.
Dr Fong says vaccination for children aged 12 to 17 years is safe and similar to adults, children can also experience the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination such as pain at the jab site, swelling, fever, and body aches.
He also says these symptoms should subside over a few days.
Dr Fong adds severe side effects are rare and the risk of getting a severe infection and succumbing to COVID-19 is still higher than the risk of adverse events from vaccination.
He says therefore, parents and guardians are encouraged to agree for their children to be vaccinated to protect them from COVID-19.
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Fiji has recorded 146 new cases of COVID-19 for the 24 hour period that ended at 8 am today with 69 cases from the Western Division, 68 cases are from the Central Division and 9 cases are from the Eastern Division.
Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says there are now 12,870 active cases.
1,328 active cases are in the Central Division, 11,226 active cases in the Western Division, 2 active cases in the Northern Division (Macuata), and 314 active cases in the Eastern Division (all in Kadavu).
There were no COVID-19 deaths to report for the last 24 hours however the Health Ministry has confirmed that a 93-year-old man from Suva died at home on 16th July. He was not vaccinated.
Dr Fong says this death is being reported today due to the delay in the issuance of the death certificate.
There have been 8 more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. However, these deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors. The doctors have determined that these deaths were caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions and not COVID-19.
There have now been 540 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 538 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.
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Kadavu now has a total of 483 cases after 9 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.
Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says nine patients are currently admitted at Vunisea hospital, of which 4 are COVID positive and currently in stable condition, and 5 are negative for COVID-19.
He says mobile outreach teams continue with their visits to villages and settlements carrying out the follow-up of primary contacts, monitoring of positive patients and clearance, roll out of COVID-19 vaccination, MCH clinic and immunization of babies, GOPD consultation, and SOPD clinic with medicine replenishment.
Doctor Fong says the Kavala health team is continuing with 2nd dose vaccinations as well as 1st dose jabs as part of the mop-up campaign.
He adds a clinical outreach team from Vunisea conducted specialist obstetrics, paediatric, internal medicine, and ultrasound scan clinics at Kavala health centre yesterday.
Movement restrictions and targeted village lockdowns for Tawava village and the villages in Yawe tikina remain in force.
READ FULL COVID-19 UPDATES.
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