North Pregnant Women May Take Astrazeneca Shot: Dr Rachel Devi

Pregnant women in the Northern Divi­sion may take the AstraZeneca vac­cine instead of waiting for the avail­ability of the Moderna vaccine.

This was confirmed by Head of Fiji’s COV­ID-19 Vaccine Taskforce Dr Rachel Devi.

The current quota for the Moderna vac­cine will be used, especially for expectant mothers on Viti Levu given the severity of the COVID-19 cases on the main island.

She said the AstraZeneca vaccine was safe and it was important for mothers to protect themselves before the borders open.

“If pregnant women wish to wait for the Moderna vaccine, it’s up to them,” she said.

In a release, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services urged pregnant women in the red zone to get themselves vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine.

Nadi Moderna vaccination drive

In Nadi, an expectant mother kept safe by remaining home for months for fear of con­tracting the virus.

But when the Moderna vaccine was rolled out in Nadi yesterday, Raijieli Qalowasa, fi­nally came out to join the crowds receiving the jab. The 34-year-old was among expect­ant mothers at Nadi Special School.

“I feel very relieved as it is my first jab,” she said.

“I was eagerly waiting for this Moderna vaccine. It is better to take the jab before anything happens.”

Her husband, Mike Jamieson, 52, said: “I work from home so I limit myself coming outside of the house and I’m more careful when I’m around her.”

For further precaution, the family are not allowing visitors to their home until Ms Qalowasa gets her second jab.

Another pregnant mother, Ashnita Lata, 28, from Lavusa, Nadi said: “It is very im­portant to get the vaccine because two of the mothers have lost their lives leaving be­hind their children.

“I feel fine and happy knowing that my child and I will be protected.”

Mother of two, Emele Raidole, 29 of Wai­nunu, Bua said: “I thank the Fijian Govern­ment and its global partners for getting this special vaccine for us.

“They are thinking of us too.”

West campaign amazing

Meanwhile, Dr Devi commended the turn­out and response of the West Vaccination Campaign.

“The West has been amazing with their vaccination campaigns.

“There is no competition but when you look at numbers, the West is doing really well but one of the things we must note as well for the West is that they started off with vaccinations very early,” she said.

“All the frontliners in the West were done first before anywhere else.”

What you need to do:

• For pregnant women in the red zone: Provide an antenatal care clinic card or a letter from your private practi­tioner
• Have a valid photo identification (ID)
• For pregnant women living outside red zone, you must go to the nearest sub-divisional hospital’s antenatal care clinic with the same documents to get vaccinated