The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is hope­ful of receiving the first batch of Pfizer vaccines for children aged 12 to 17 as early as next week.

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong said based on discussions held by the ministry and its partners, the vaccine was due to arrive in the country by mid-Octo­ber.

Through the assistance of the New Zealand Government, the Ministry of Health is hoping to secure 200,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines.

Dr Fong said more discussions were being held to deter­mine the final number of doses that would be received in this batch.

80 Per Cent Vaccination Rate

With the percentage of fully vaccinated Fijians likely to reach 80 per cent soon, a number of restrictions is likely to be eased going on to the new week.

These restrictions could include the Viti Levu curfew to be from 11pm to 4am as mentioned by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mr Bainimarama had also said that all businesses could fully re-open to fully-vaccinated Fijians, all sports –– in­cluding team sports like rugby, football and netball–– can be played again, and stadiums can re-open at a 80 per cent fully vaccinated rate.

As outlined by Dr Fong, any easing of COVID-19 restric­tions would only be announced by the Prime Minister.