Do Not Give Anti-Vaxxers A Platform
Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete is urging Fijians to deny speaking platforms for anti-vaxxers, who have spoken against the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Minister for Health and Medical Services made this plea after journalists asked him why certain doctors have appeared on social media talking against the vaccine.
“At least two of doctors have had complaints filed against them around the discussions that they’ve had,” he said.
Dr Waqainabete’s plea to those giving them platforms to speak is on is “please don’t do it. One of them is unregistered, please don’t give an unregistered doctor a platform to speak.
“By giving them a platform, we are telling them that they have a voice.”
The Health Minister added that statistics in Fiji don’t lie and they have shown that 83 per cent of those who have died are not vaccinated and 17 per cent of those who died had only received their first jab.
New Zealand assists with more doses of vaccine
The shipment of 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines funded by the New Zealand Government and sourced in co-operation with Spain were received by the minister in Suva yesterday.
While handing over the vaccines to Dr Waqainabete, New Zealand High Commissioner, Jonathan Curr, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support Fijians getting access to safe, effective vaccines and help against COVID-19.
Dr Waqainabete acknowledged the continued support of the New Zealand Government and said: “The 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines (and the more committed) will boost the efforts of vaccination teams.”
In addition to access to vaccines, New Zealand is providing NZ$2 million (FJ$2.93m) of Official Development Assistance to support the vaccine rollout and preparedness.
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