67% of the market vendors throughout Fiji have received their first jab

Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar says it is pleasing to note that around 67% of the market vendors throughout the 18 municipal markets in Fiji have received their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine as of yesterday and the vendors cannot enter their respective markets after 1st August 2021 if they have not been vaccinated. Kumar says they continue to ensure that all municipal market vendors around the country have been vaccinated in light of the government’s ‘No Jab No Job’ policy.

She says there are still approximately 1,599 vendors who have not been vaccinated and they have not been allowed to enter the relevant markets.

Kumar says the market vendors have been appropriately advised that after 1st August 2021, they cannot enter their respective markets, unless they have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

She says by 1st November 2021, a vendor cannot enter the market unless they have received the second dose.

Kumar says all vendors from Sigatoka, Lami, Valelevu, Makoi and Korovou have received their first jab, 96% from the Rakiraki Market, 95% in Nadi and 82% from the Savusavu Market.

Kumar says 32% of the market vendors were still not vaccinated.

She says in the Nausori Market 746 vendors were not vaccinated out of 1,179 vendors.

Kumar says similarly in Lautoka 353 vendors are unvaccinated from a total number of 830 vendors.

She adds that around 40% of the vendors had not taken their first jab in the Ba and Laqere markets.

Kumar says the Municipal Councils have implemented a number of safety measures for all Fijians which is supported by the Ministry of Health in the awareness programme, decontamination of sites and in the vaccination campaigns.

She says drive-thru sites were set up for vaccination and swabbing making it convenient and safer for the people

Kumar says every market vendor is required to present their vaccination card in their respective markets.