64% of the target population have received at least one dose and 12.5% are now fully vaccinated

377,090 people in Fiji have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 73,127 have received their second doses.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this means that 64 percent of the target population have received at least one dose and 12.5 percent are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Meanwhile the national 7-day average daily test positivity is 18 percent and continues on an upward trend

A total of 211,823 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 254,684 tested since testing began in March 2020.

The 7-day average of new cases per day is 746 cases per day or 844 cases per million population per day.

Doctor Fong says the average daily case numbers are increasing, together with cases of severe disease and deaths.

He says sadly, people with severe COVID-19 are still dying at home or they are coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness.

Please also note the 92 percent efficacy for AstraZeneca kicks in 14 days after the second dose.

Doctor Fong also says severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease.

Severe symptoms of COVID-19 include dfficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, severe headache for a few days, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake; and pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds.

If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms please go immediately to your nearest hospital or medical facility or call 165 if you are unable to travel to a medical facility.