COVID-19 vaccination rollout starts in Fiji this morning

The COVID-19 vaccination rollout starts this morning with all the necessary preparations done by the Health Ministry.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete confirms that the 6,000 frontline workers who are most at risk, will get the jabs first.

Each person has to get two jabs of the Oxford Astra Zeneca.

Doctor Waqainabete also says that they have the freezer trucks all ready to safely take the vaccines to the different areas.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says under the digitalFiji umbrella, they have built an online registration portal that will give them the data needed to ensure a smooth nationwide rollout.

The European Union confirms Fiji will receive 108,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX Facility which is a global initiative aimed at making sure low and middle-income countries get access to the vaccines.

The EU and its member states as well as the European Union Investment Bank are some of the lead contributors to the COVAX Facility.

Fiji is the first Pacific island country to receive the vaccines through the facility and the 12,000 doses received over the weekend will allow the start of the vaccination campaign in Fiji with those most at risk.