COVID-19 vaccine can be in Fiji by the second part of this year – WHO

We can expect the COVID-19 vaccine to be in Fiji by the second part of this year, but people should not expect the vaccine to be a silver bullet.

World Health Organisation’s Representative for the South Pacific, Dr Corine Capuano says that this is why there is a need for non-pharmaceutical intervention like wearing of masks, physical distancing and other COVID–19 prevention measures.

Dr Capuano says they are reviewing and contemplating COVID-19 vaccines that will be more adaptive to our climate.

She says Fiji is working hard to prepare for a vaccine deployment and vaccination plan.

This plan will include all aspects of rolling out vaccines from the training to the type of vaccine.

Dr Capuano also highlighted that Fiji’s preparedness for the COVID-19 vaccine arrival and rollout will be scaled up with the assistance of the WHO.

This comes after the European Union gave US$24 million for their contribution agreement with the WHO, UN World Food Programme and the Pacific Community.

Capuano says this assistance will fill some gaps they have had into the Phase 2 COVID-19 Pacific Preparedness and Response Plan.