Huge crowds of people at various COVID-19 vaccination locations in Suva

Huge crowds of people turned up at various COVID-19 vaccination locations in Suva this morning which included Wainitarawau Road in Cunningham, Kinoya Methodist Church and Kinoya Village Hall.

In Wainitarawau Settlement, some people were seen standing in groups in long lines while others are crowded up in a tent not maintaining the 2 metres physical distancing.

Police officers and soldiers are also seen telling people to follow the COVID-19 protocols.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong stresses that people should not line up and crowd at the vaccination site or in front of the mobile buses.

Doctor Fong says the mobile team will be visiting and vaccinating households having home-bound individuals due to illness or old age and are known to the Ministry of Health.

Please stay at your home and wait for your turn when your family is called by the mobile teams from the road.

Police Spokesperson Savaira Tabua says police officers have been at the vaccination sites from when it started this morning and despite informing people to follow protocols, some still came in crowds and not adhering.

She says they have stepped up operations in these areas.

Planned mobile mass COVID-19 vaccinations started in parts of the Suva Nausori Containment Zones from this morning and people are requested to stay at their homes until mobile health officials call out from the road for you to either go to a nearby mobile vaccination site or to the mobile bus to get vaccinated.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.