AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and it is the key to our economic recovery – PM

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine works, they are safe and they are the key to our economic recovery.

While speaking at the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan Consultations, Bainimarama says we began vaccinating yesterday, targeting 6,000 frontline individuals.

He says that is the first step on the road to national recovery, and he appeals to all Fijians to support the Health Ministry as they roll out the vaccination program for COVID-19.

The Prime Minister thanked the World Health Organisation and the COVAX facility for providing those first 12,000 doses of vaccine, and they look forward to receiving the rest of the vaccines under this arrangement soon.

Bainimarama says he knows Fijians are keen to register and be vaccinated and they are working on procuring all of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to see that our people are immunized alongside the citizens of developed nations.

He says government is committed to vaccinate all eligible candidates who are 18 years and over according to the Ministry for Health’s expert advice as soon as it is physically possible.

Meanwhile, a batch of vaccines for frontliners and target groups has safely arrived in the North.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen who was part of the frontliners who were vaccinated says this has finally brought hope to them and for Fiji as a whole.

Fiji Airways Air Hostess and Fiji Olympian Sisilia Seavula says she was excited to be one of the first people to get vaccinated.