Fiji has received 12,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first Pacific Island country to receive a rollout under the COVAX facility. Around 6,000 frontline workers are expected to receive the first doses.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived on March 6, at Nadi International Airport, being the first batch of vaccines to arrive in the Pacific region under the COVAX Facility.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said that this was a small yet important step towards protecting Fijians from a plague that has claimed millions of lives around the world.

"It is about bringing back jobs, reconnecting families across borders and reclaiming Fiji’s rightful place in the world."

Under a digitalFiji umbrella, an online registration portal will ensure a smooth Fiji-wide roll-out of the vaccinations, he said.

He thanked organisations that contributed to COVAX to help bring the vaccines to Fiji, including GAVI, WHO, UNICEF and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiatives and other development partners.

COVAX

Fiji was able to recieve its allotted vaccines from COVAX, after completing preparatory work in good time.

Dr Seth Berkley Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccination Alliance, said COVAX's mission is to help end the acute phase of the pandemic as soon as possible, allowing global equitable access to vaccines against COVID-19.

Acting WHO South Pacific Representative, Dr. Akeem Ali also said the arrival meant that frontline workers and high-risk populations could begin to be vaccinated.

“With the support from partners, Fiji has worked incredibly hard to be in a position to be able to receive the vaccine from COVAX."

Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services is targeting frontline staff, in line with global recommendations, including healthcare workers, airlines and airport workers and those involved in quarantine, for this first batch of vaccines, to support the opening of Fiji borders.

Fiji also looked forward to receiving additional batches needed to complete the vaccination of all eligible Fijians, said Fiji's PM office.