Results for AstraZeneca CoViD-19 vaccine

Tonga's COVID positive case in quarantine is not showing any symptoms, because the passenger was previously vaccinated, the Minister of Health said yesterday, as first doses of vaccines reached 89% of eligible adults in Tonga. So far 63% of the eligible adult population are fully vaccinated, after the weekend rush boosted the numbers.

Tonga's Ministry of Health today urged those aged 18 – 29 years to get their COVID-19 vaccinations, after it was revealed the age group had the lowest inoculation rate at 38% compared to older people. The Minister said they needed to speed up the vaccinations in order to resume the repatriations to Tonga. “The return of these people depends on how good our vaccination rate is. And if we take it slow just because no one here has the virus, they will continue to suffer.”

Around 36,800 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses from COVAX, funded by Japan, would arrive in Tonga today, said Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola this morning.

A consignment of 10,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines is scheduled to arrive in Tonga next Tuesday, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. More COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer doses, will follow to inoculate youth and pregnant women. He said the risk of the Delta variant entering Tonga was increasing. If a Delta outbreak happens in Tonga it might be too late to vaccinate some people to protect them.

The roll out of second doses of COVID-19 vaccine begins tomorrow, 24 June, at the Basilica Church in Nuku’alofa and Vaiola Hospital, in Tongatapu, health officials said today. After receiving the second dose, it takes two to three weeks for the body to react to the vaccine to reach its highest protection level. “Looking at the COVID-19 situation in Fiji, it is a wakeup call for Pacific countries,” said CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola. By Eleanor Gee

With 28,150 people vaccinated to date, only 40 vials (less than 480 doses) of the COVID-19 vaccine remain to be administered before the batch expires on 31 May, the Ministry of Health said today.

With only 5,000 to 6,000 of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine remaining, people aged 30 years and over are now eligible to be vaccinated, health officials announced this morning. ‘Eua is receiving 2,000 of those doses and the rest will be available in Tongatapu for first come, first served. No date has been confirmed for inoculating the remainder of the population, due to a limited supply of vaccines worldwide.

With only 60% of the first batch of Tonga's COVID-19 vaccines used as of this morning, 7 May, Tonga's Ministry of Health is extending the vaccination program to next week, 10-11 May at various venues. They confirmed that people from the outer islands who are currently in Tongatapu can get vaccinated here. Vaccinations are averaging over 900 per day.

People who have been vaccinated with a single dose of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were 65% less likely to get a new Covid infection, a UK study has found. The chances of becoming infected by COVID (SARS-CoV-2) fell sharply after a first dose. However, some people can still get Covid after being vaccinated but the ongoing transmission is reduced.