Pfizer vaccine rollout next week for youth, but unvaccinated over-18s too slow

Tonga is returning 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines to COVAX today so they can be given to Vietnam before the expiry date. The Ministry of Health is disappointed that unvaccinated people have been slow to take up these doses. So far less than 30% of the total population has been vaccinated. The ministry said it is not easy to get the vaccines and now they are trying to get more. Around 31,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Tonga next week but these are for 12 to 17-year-olds and pregnant women.