Tonga is looking to the COVAX Facility to obtain a safe COVID-19 vaccine for Tonga, the CEO for Ministry of Health, Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola said today at a press briefing at Vaiola Hospital.

By the end of 2021, the countries under COVAX expect to have vaccinated 20-25 percent of their people.

Dr 'Akau'ola said Tonga has a small population and our capacity is good for vaccination.

“What we are looking at is supply and we are hopeful. It’s good that countries are vaccinating and we are monitoring their progress.”

For Tongans stranded abroad, they could be vaccinated and they could return, especially those in the United States because they would start [vaccination] soon, he said.

COVAX legal application

The COVAX Facility is a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of eventual COVID-19 vaccines. 64 higher income economies have joined the COVAX Facility.

Dr 'Akau'ola said that Tonga has already applied to COVAX but has to submit a second application due in January 2021, around legalities.

He said, the reason is to secure a place with COVAX. This is an important agreement as this vaccine is new and it is not easy to negotiate.

"One part of the application is to indemnify the vaccine manufacturers, so we won’t be able to sue them."

At the same time, there could be reactions to the vaccine and COVAX is now working on a compensation facility, he said.

For example if someone has a severe adverse reaction, they can apply to this facility to be compensated, and not blame the vaccine manufacturer.

“This is why we need to ensure this negotiation and we are working with the Solicitor General to confirm that the compensation facility protects someone who might have severe adverse reaction to the vaccine. But this is a good avenue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tonga needs to join COVIX to ensure the vaccine that we would be using is safe and to ensure that stakeholders are monitoring data on this from around the world.

Vaccines under COVAX are tested in three stages to ensure its safety.

“If we try to get vaccines outside [of COVAX] it will be difficult to know which vaccine was tested in stages 1, 2, and 3”, said Dr ‘Akau’ola.

“Stage 3 is already tested by tens of thousands [of people] and its safety is guaranteed.”

Second vaccine

He said, currently, the vaccine manufactured by Pfeizer and Biotech is the only vaccine approved and Tonga is looking at a second option.

This vaccine has to be stored at -80°C conditions but “no Pacific Island country has capacity to store this.”

To consider this vaccine, they would need to look at the cost of fridges. However, for the COVAX facility, Dr ‘Akau’ola confirmed they would wait for a second vaccine “that can be stored in our freezers”.

“We are working with WHO and UNICEF, and UNICEF will buy the vaccine and train the frontline workers.”

High acceptance rate

Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola said Tonga has a high vaccination acceptance rate, evident when Tonga had no deaths in the recent measles outbreak.

When the Health Ministry announces the vaccination, “My plea for people is to come and be vaccinated ...this is the medicine to protect us from COVID-19 and not spread it.”

CoViD-19 free status

Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Hon Dr 'Amelia Tu’ipulotu was thankful that Tonga is still free from CoViD-19.

She thanked all those involved, including the public in keeping Tonga CoViD-19 free. 

She also acknowledged the sacrifice made by frontline workers and stakeholders to keep the country we love safe, during this pandemic. 

Meanwhile, the next repatriation flight is planned for the second week of January 2021.

To date, a total of 1251 people have been repatriated to Tonga.