Fiji anticipates receiving 108,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in April or May - Dr Devi

Good news as the second shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine under the COVAX Facility could arrive as early as April or May this year.

Head of Fiji's COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce, Dr Rachel Devi says they are anticipating that they could get 108,000 doses to vaccinate the identified individuals.

COVAX Facility is a global initiative aimed at making sure low and middle-income countries get access to vaccines.

The European Union 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 on the 6th of this month will allow the start of the vaccination campaign in Fiji with those most at risk.

Devi says the 12,000 doses that Fiji received is a portion of the 20 percent COVAX has committed to the country.

She says the first phase of vaccination includes front liners, the second phase will have all other health care workers and defence workers and people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, hypertension and other health-related issues.

She says why they have chosen this group of people is that they have seen around the world that these are the people who are dying more from COVID-19.

Devi says phase 3 will have all individuals above the age of 18 years.