AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine funded by Japan arrives in Tonga [1]
Thursday, August 26, 2021 - 16:38. Updated on Thursday, August 26, 2021 - 16:39.
A consignment of 36,800 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Japan and provided by COVAX, arrived in Tonga on an Air New Zealand cargo flight last night, 25 August.
The Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa and the Minister of Health were at Fua’amotu International Airport to receive them.
Japan’s Ambassador to Tonga HE Kensaku Munenaga handed over the vaccines to the prime minster, who had requested them during a meeting on 30 June with Japan’s Prime Minister Suga.
Hon Dr Tu’i’onetoa said the vaccines were made in Japan.
“At this very difficult time, we thank Japan especially for delivering on their promise to support the security and socio-economic survival of our people.”
Tonga’s goal is to vaccinate 63,128 people with two doses of AstraZeneca. These are eligible persons aged 18 years and over, living in Tonga.
To date, a total of 27,179 people have been fully vaccinated in Tonga. This includes 25,353 people in Tongatapu, 1,748 in ‘Eua, 70 in Vava’u, 4 in Ha’apai, and 4 in the Niuas.
HE Munenaga said he was grateful to see the arrival of the additional vaccines.
“While our Kingdom is still COVID-free, we should vaccinate all the population over 18 years old as soon as possible, and it is my pleasure as the Japanese Ambassador to be able to contribute to the vaccination rollout.”
He said unfortunately, COVID-19 had changed our world and we will have to coexist with it.
“The age of ‘with Corona’ will start whether we like it or not, and it is already in existence outside of Tonga.”
"While I sincerely hope that Tonga could maintain its COVID-free society, after fully getting vaccinated, we will have to reconsider our border restrictions so that we could get along with other countries."
“We will have to go along with the world ‘with Corona’ in our future,” he said.
In addition to the vaccines, Japan is providing five vehicles and a boat to assist vaccination roll-outs in the outer islands under their US$9 million Cold Chain assistance to Pacific Island countries, through the United Nationals Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Japan has also committed to fund US$20.8 million in the Project for Strengthening Capacity of Health for COVID-19 Crisis to Pacific Islands, including Tonga, in partnership with UNICEF.
Earlier this year, Japan provided themography cameras and medical equipment to Tonga to assist in its protective measures against COVID-19.