COVID-19 Fight All RFMF Personnel To Get Vaccinated: Naupoto Tudravu Urges All Police Officers To Get Same
“The rollout of the vaccines to all our personnel will also help the quarantine work that we undertake together with other disciplined forces and the Ministry of Health."
Wednesday 07 April 2021 | 11:00
Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto gets his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua on April 6, 2021. Photo: Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu gets his COVID vaccination shot from staff nurse, Susana More at the Police Gym in Nasova on April 6, 2021. Photo: Police Media Cell
All Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) personnel will get the COVID-19 vaccination jab, says RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto.
Rear Admiral Naupoto made the comment after receiving his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) in Nabua yesterday.
Mr Naupoto was vaccinated along with 100 personnel from the QEB-based units during the beginning of a weeklong vaccination drive that began yesterday.
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“This is a way that we will help in the fight against COVID-19 not only in Fiji but in our United Nations peacekeeping missions,” Mr Naupoto said.
“Those earmarked for a tour of duty (TOD) must get vaccinated.
“The rollout of the vaccines to all our personnel will also help the quarantine work that we undertake together with other disciplined forces and the Ministry of Health.
“Since last year only RFMF personnel under 35 were involved in frontline quarantine work but now those over 35 will also be able to assist after being vaccinated.”
Setefano Koroivalu of RFMF gets his first COVID vaccination shot from staff nurse, Aqela Susu at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, in Nabua, on April 6, 2021. Photo: Ronald Kumar
More than 4000 members of the Fiji Police Force are expected to get the vaccine this week.
Police officers in the Northern Division and the maritime areas will be vaccinated later in the year.
Senior Superintendent of Police Vilisi Waqavesi said: “I would encourage everyone to take it when they become eligible. This will protect you from the COVID-19 virus.
“We need to be mindful of the information we receive and we should not be swayed by the number of false information that continues to be shared.”
Inspector Alisi Wainikoula said: “Just like when you go to the hospital to be treated with a disease or an illness and you are given a penicillin shot, which is what is happening here with the COVID-19 injection.
“You have to be vaccinated to protect yourself.”
Edited by Ranoba Baoa
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