Expect arrival of COVID-19 vaccine in the first quarter of 2021 – AG

We can expect the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in phases throughout 2021 starting in the first quarter and the vaccination campaign will be implemented in phases according to the scheduled arrival supplies and deployed in order priority.

This has been confirmed by the Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum this morning in parliament who says Fiji and 191 other countries including U.S have signed up to COVAX facility is a vaccine distributing arm and Fiji is part of 92 countries eligible for donor funded doses.

Sayed-Khaiyum says it could be many months or a full year until we get a mere 15% of the population vaccinated which is far below anything approaching herd immunity which is the level of immunisation that makes transmission all but impossible and patiently waiting for our turn in the global COVAX cue will be economic suicide for the country.

The Minister says instead, they are working with bilateral partners to secure financial resources to buy vaccines and secure shipment for the vaccine as well and so far Australia and India have stepped up with direct funding and shipment support.

He says the government is also keen to directly purchase from companies who make a viable vaccine.

The Minister also says that if you consider our eligible population in Fiji, we are looking at about 1.3 million doses and rolling out vaccination will be the most complex logistical exercise in Fijian history and the medical staff are battle tested in vaccination campaigns.

He says given our unique status of a COVID contained country, the priority group for Phase 1 will be the frontliners which include all border control workers in sea and air, ports, frontline health and hotel workers and their immediate family members. Phase 2 will cover vulnerable workers including, but not limited to those living with pre-existing issues for example diabetes, hypertension and cardiac issues while Phase 3 will cover all those above the age of 60 years and any other person of or above the age of 18.

He adds that almost all COVID-19 vaccines are stored at cold storage and require 2 doses - Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines require minus 80 degrees celsius and Moderna requires minus 20 degrees celsius, equivalent to deep freezer and Astra Zeneca vaccine and other vaccines are stored at normal refrigerator temperature.

The Minister has also highlighted that the government will soon deploy a national COVID-19 administration registration for the administration of vaccines as there is an absence of the national identification mechanism and a digital immunization registry and there is a need to have a credible registration process and an internationally acceptable passport is paramount.

He adds that it is important that every eligible Fijian registers for the vaccination and we cannot jeopardize our chances of economic recovery which can only truly begin once that target population has been vaccinated.

The Minister has also highlighted that cleaners in Suvavou House have said that leaders in their faith based organisation have told them not to get vaccinated because it spreads evil.