Fiji’s fight against COVID-19 has received a major boost as New Zealand has offered, and Fiji has accepted, AstraZeneca doses for 250,000 people from New Zealand’s domestic vaccine portfolio.
New Zealand Associate Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio and Fijian Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete met virtually last week to discuss New Zealand’s offer, which also includes NZ$2 million of Official Development Assistance to support Fiji’s vaccine rollout.
The Ministers say New Zealand and Fiji are working together closely to support Fiji with access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity.
Both Ministers stressed that there are still a number of steps to work through before the vaccines can be delivered.
The vaccine still has to be approved by Medsafe before it can be used in New Zealand and donated to Fiji.
Dr. Waqainabete says Fiji has chosen to roll-out AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following earlier deliveries through the COVAX AMC and from India, and they are delighted New Zealand has been able to support us to continue our campaign
Sio says Fiji has worked hard to keep COVID-19 contained and New Zealand has been committed to supporting it in this.
He says New Zealand is working hard to make that happen as soon as possible with a target of delivery for the third quarter of this year.
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