From the beginning I was willing to get vaccinated, says 76-year-old, Saira Begum.

Ms Begum and her daughter, Sadhna Wati, 50, who live in Waiyavi were among the hundreds of Lautoka residents who turned up to Natabua High School yesterday to get their second COVID-19 vaccine.

She said from the start she had set her mind to making sure that her family would receive the vaccine and help Fiji quickly get back to normalcy.

Ms Begum and her daughter are now fully vaccinated.

“My family has also been very supportive and I am thankful that we have all agreed to getting vaccinated,” she said.

“For my age, being vaccinated is good for my health, good for my family, good for my children and also to help the nation move forward.

“So many are saying otherwise about getting vaccinated but I never listen to anyone.”

She said no person should be left behind.

“If we say no one should be left behind then we should help each other move forward together,” she added.