Published on Matangi Tonga (https://matangitonga.to)

Home > First batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Tonga

First batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Tonga [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 16:42.  Updated on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 16:46.

Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, government officials and front line workers with the first batch of COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine shipment at Fua'amotu International Airport, 31 March 2021. Photo: Tonga Police

The first batch of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines arrived in Tonga today, 31 March.

Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa said the vaccines arrived on the repatriation flight from Auckland, New Zealand.

The Minister of Health will reveal more details about the vaccine through a live announcement this evening at 7:30pm from the Tonga Broadcasting Commission streamed on Television Tonga, and radio stations AM1017 and FM90.

The Ministry of Health stated the vaccines were provided through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.

The facility offers a reliable supply of safe and efficient vaccines especially for Pacific countries like Tonga, who do not have direct access to manufacturers.

COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO, alongside key delivery partner, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It aims to accelerate the development manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access to every country in the world.

The COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was approved for use last month by the World Health Organization.

Ministry of Health CEO Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa, MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma'u, and John Havea from Civil Aviation Tonga, with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine shipment, Fua'amotu International Airport, 31 March 2021. Photo: Tonga Police
Pacific Islands [2]
Tonga [3]
Health [4]
AstraZeneca CoViD-19 vaccine [5]
COVID-19 [6]
Health [7]

This content contains images that have not been displayed in print view.

Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2021/03/31/first-batch-covid-19-vaccine-arrives-tonga

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2021/03/31/first-batch-covid-19-vaccine-arrives-tonga [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/pacific-islands?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/health?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/covid-19?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/topic/health?page=1