The United Nations will bring the COVID-19 vaccine into Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, UN resident co-ordinator Sanaka Samarasinha said at a tourism roundtable held in Nadi recently.
He said this would be done under the COVAX facility that was coled by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization.
The facility aims to procure two billion doses by the end of 2021.
Mr Samarasinha said a successful COVID vaccination program would help in re-opening border entry points in Pacific countries.
“I am happy to report that the UN is part of the COVAX facility and working hard to bring the vaccines to the Pacific as soon as they are available,” he said.
“But the initiative that looks at providing the vaccines initially to 20 per cent of the population in each country isn’t sufficient to create the confidence that will be needed for tourism to rebound.”
He said there needed to be a much greater coverage of vaccination in the Pacific region.
“Considering the relatively small numbers (of vaccines) that are needed to get to 70 per cent or 80 per cent coverage in the Pacific as well as the cost savings of transporting them in one shipment as opposed to several, are compelling arguments that must be heard in the corridors of power from all of us.”
