Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said he was impressed with the number of students who received their first vaccination against COVID-19.

Over the course of two days, 7102 students aged between 15 and 17 turned up at the vaccination sites.

“I must congratulate the parents and the children who came out for the first two days, we have been able to vaccinate more than 7000 children in that age group,” he said in Parliament yesterday.

“Honourable Qereqeretabua had said that there was lack of advocacy and awareness but 7000 of our children turned up in two days.”

The ministry is targeting 45,000 in this age group to get the Moderna jab.

“For those from 15 to 17 years old, we know in this vaccination rollout we are targeting more than 45,000 children,” he said.

In his daily update on Wednesday night, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary  Dr James Fong reiterated that the vaccination coverage rate in children would not determine the school starting dates.

“The children vaccination rate also does not impact our current social relaxation and/or economic recovery programme,” he said.

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