WHO thanks Fiji for completing preparatory work on time to be able to receive COVID-19 vaccines

Frontline healthcare workers, members of the disciplined forces involved in COVID-19 operations, selected staff of Fiji Airways, Airports Fiji Limited and the Fiji Immigration Department along with quarantine workers will be the first recipients of the first batch of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines that will be administered next week.

There are 6,000 frontline workers that will be vaccinated first.

A statement by the Office of the Prime Minister says this is being done to support the opening of Fiji's borders.

12,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived at the Nadi International Airport last night.

It was made possible through the COVAX Facility - a global initiative aimed at making sure low and middle-income countries get access to the vaccines.

Acting WHO South Pacific Representative Dr Akeem Ali says with the support from partners, Fiji has worked incredibly hard to be in a position to be able to receive the vaccine from COVAX.

Ali has thanked the Ministry of Health team for preparing for the arrival of the vaccines, from identifying priority groups, developing tracking systems to upskilling their staff to be able to safely deliver this vaccine.

Fiji is the first Pacific island country to receive the vaccines through the facility and we will receive 108,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX Facility.