The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has received 64 cases relating to adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) since the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Out of this number, 55 cases were assessed to be non-serious while nine cases were serious, which required hospitalisation and resulted in deaths post-vaccination.

In the COVID-19 report, Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong said analysis showed that 47 of the 64 cases were reported from the medical bay at the vaccination sites.

The most common side effects reported were fever, body pains and hives.

“A total of 62 cases have been completely investigated while two cases are still under investigation,” Dr Fong said.

“Of these investigated cases 61 were adult cases and 1 child.”

“To date, none of the reported cases of serious AEFI were assessed to be COVID-19 vaccine related.”

Fijians are advised that reporting of adverse effects were expected following the rollout of any vaccine.

The ministry has an AEFI investigation system comprising an AEFI officer with internal (Fiji) and external (international) panels who were responsible for receiving AEFI reports and investigating it.

For milder cases, the officer facilitates follow-ups via phone calls, Viber messages, Messenger, or emails.

Fatal events may be assessed through a post mortem.

Three-Month Baby
A three-month infant from Naitasiri is the latest COVID-19 reported death.

The child was referred to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital from Vunidawa Hospital on October 30, 2021, with an acute history of cough and fast breathing.

He was taken to Vunidawa Hospital in respiratory distress and shock and was medically assessed and stabilised by the attending doctor before being transferred.

Sadly, he died two days after admission on November 2, 2021.

So far, there have been 695 deaths due to COVID-19, with 693 deaths reported during the outbreak that started in April, 2021.

A total of 15 new cases were reported last Friday, 5 of which were recorded on November 18, and 10 new cases recorded last Thursday.

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