Fiji has the potential to vaccinate all eligible Fijians with the COVID-19 vaccine within six months of procuring it, says Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

He said the COVID-19 vaccine programme will include everyone above the age of 18-years-old and the ministry is prepared for the largest Vaccine Programme in Fiji’s history.

Priority will be given to frontline workers, followed by those at most risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease, and then the rest of the eligible Fijian population.

The vaccine can be administered within a maximum of six months with two doses given per person.

Dr Waqainabete revealed that the COVAX Facility has committed to provide Fiji a part of the 100,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as early as the first quarter of this year, with the rest to follow in the second quarter.

The vaccine is a two-dose vaccine given between four to 12 weeks and according to the World Health Organization it has an 82.4 per cent effectiveness rate in preventing individuals from contracting COVID-19.

Pfizer has an efficiency level of 95 per cent while Moderna is at 94.5 per cent.

According to preliminary trials, the vaccines have been shown to protect against the new coronavirus variants.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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