GOVERNMENT has set aside about $75 million for COVID-19 as the first 15 out of the total 20 per cent of vaccines earmarked for Fiji through the COVAX facility will be free.
This, according to Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, as 10 Fijian frontline workers became the first in the nation to be injected with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Nadi International Airport.
“The COVAX facility has made it very clear to us that the first 108,000 doses they will give to us, which is about 15 per cent, will be free and the other five per cent will be subsidised,” he said.
Dr Waqainabete said Government’s $75m for COVID-19 would also be used to look at ways to procure more vaccines.
“In the supplementary budget last year, $50m was set aside for the pandemic and in this 2021 budget there was $25m set aside for COVID-19.”
He said the vaccines would be administered free of charge to all citizens.
“Even when the Government starts buying the vaccines, it will be free for all Fijians.”
He added the eligible age group for COVID-19 vaccinations was those who were 18 years and above, adding for those below the age of 18 years, the Health Ministry will have to go in line with the scientific evidence available and prioritise accordingly.
COVID-19 jabs
- Lautoka Hospital’s
Consultant Anaesthetist Dr
Mara Vukivukiseru; - Health Inspector Setareki
Raiula; - Border Police Commanding
Offi cer SP Aisake Kafoa; - PS Health and Medical
Services Dr James Fong; - FRCS principle Customs
offi cer Sanjip Reddy; - Acting WHO rep to South
Pacific Dr Akeem Ali; - ATS manager
Passenger Services
Nairah Mohammed; - Manager Airports
Joe Gray; - Nurse Pratika Singh;
- UNICEF rep Sheldon Yett;
- Fiji Airways rep Maria
Vani; - Minister Dr Ifereimi
Waqainabete; - Tanoa International Hotel
GM Daniel Roy; and - RFMF’s Major Neumi
Vakadewavuka.
