The Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Fiji today received another batch of 50,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Australian government.
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete received the vaccine and acknowledged the Fiji-Australia Vuvale partnership for the assistance.
“We thank the Vuvale Australia for the gift of vaccines and also for the 1million doses of COVID-19 vaccine pledge which will greatly ensure that we meet the target population,” Dr Waqainabete said.
“The vaccines are very important in terms of our containment strategy. We also want to make sure that we work very effectively in supporting the economic hope of our nation,” he said in a Government statement.
In the statement, Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes was quoted saying that the government is pleased and eager to assist Fiji during this crucial time.
“We have also delivered a PCR (polymerase chain reaction testing) machine to Fiji which I hope will enable Fiji to ramp up the important testing, and I am confident that by the end of this week we will deliver another batch of 120,000 vaccines to Fiji,” Mr Feakes said.
“My Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is absolutely genuinely pleased about helping Fiji out during this dreadful pandemic as he has a particular affinity with Fiji, having visited many times in his private capacity including his recent visit in 2019.
“Prime Minister Morrison has been coming here for years. He loves Fiji and is determined that we will deliver on our million-dose pledge and I expect him to write to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama either this week or early next week in setting up a schedule for the delivery of vaccines.”
