The Health Ministry continues to advocate for Fijians who have yet to be vaccinated to get their COVID-19 doses.
Permanent secretary for Health Dr James Fong said under the program, Fiji’s three primary focuses were to reduce severe illness, reduce hospitalisation and reduce mortalities or death.
“The overarching goal of Fiji’s COVID-19 vaccination program is to protect all people in Fiji from harm caused by SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr Fong.
“Our priority is to have community wide protection by having achieved high vaccination coverage, especially on the second dose for all eligible Fijians.” He said administering the vaccine would still apply to different age groups.
“The vaccination to the specific age groups will be identified or determined from the burden of the disease affecting different ages.
“This is followed by identifying the available vaccines approved by the World Health Organization and also approved by the Fiji National Regulatory Authority for use in Fiji.”
Dr Fong said the program had brought many benefits for Fijians.
“Employment benefits, most employers are requesting each applicant to receive at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccines, international travel and certain applications for citizenship overseas.
“The Ministry of Health encourages all its community members who have not received their initial doses to be vaccinated at this opportunity.
“All who have not received their second doses to access the three identified sites — Suva Health Office – MCH Clinic, Nadi Sharda Clinic and Labasa MCH Clinic — to be vaccinated with dose two.
“All those who have received their primary two doses are to receive one dose of the booster.”
