By Mary Lyn Fonua and Eleanor Gee

Thousands of people flocked to vaccination sites in Tonga, last night and today following news of a COVID-19 positive case in a passenger who arrived in Tonga from Christchurch on October 27.

“Yesterday afternoon after the announcement of our one case, people were coming to the vaccination sites, so it was very exciting to see that,” the Minister of Health, Hon, Dr 'Amelia Tu'ipulotu, told Matangi Tonga this morning at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall vaccination site, that was packed with people.

She said the high turnout last night and today will boost the national coverage among the eligible population.

“More people are coming forward because now we have coverage of first dose of about 86% and a second dose of about 62%, so this is a major turnout today and will boost the overall coverage of first and fully vaccinated.”

“We are doing our best, as we have done in the past, and our team are fully committed at the front line to better protect the Kingdom,” she said.

The Minister of Health thanked the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern, for the donation of the Pfizer vaccines that arrived on 20 October, which would protect the youth of Tonga and vulnerable pregnant women.

Working at the site, Afu Tei, the Tonga national Immunization Co-ordinator, said that news of the positive COVID-19 test had motivated people to get vaccinated this weekend.

“It's good to hear that news that bring the people over here because we've been to the community several times but only a few come to the site, but yesterday and today was really good, really full, very best.

“Almost 2,000 last night and today you can see the turnout is very good,” she said.

She said the Pfizer vaccine is very sensitive and needs careful handling by the immunization team.

Teenagers and parents

Most of the crowd waiting to register for shots at the Queen Salote hall site were teens 12-17 years, now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Many were accompanied by a parent.

One parent at the site, 'Elenoa Ma'u from Sia'atoutai said, yes, she was concerned about the news of a COVID positive case arriving in Tonga.

“I am very, very, very worried, especially for my children for their safety, even though I've already had my two vaccines, but my son he's in Toloa and they haven't had their one, they said they gonna have their one Monday, but I guess it's a bit too late to wait for Monday. So I can't wait for Monday, that's why I'm here, bring my son here, so he can have his jab.”

'Elenoa didn't think that people were slow to get vaccine and said they were just too busy during the day

“But it's important for them to come right now and have vaccine for them or the children. I don't think they are taking their time, I think they are on their way here, they heard it on the radio, but just finding a transport to bring them here.”

Other mothers, Lorraine Kauhenga from Fanga and Mosi Finau from Longolongo said they were both double-jabbed and not so worried this time.

“I'm here to get my daughter vaccinated,” said Lorraine. “They were scheduled to have it after the exams, but due to COVID I think they've moved it up and we heard about it, and here we are.

The two mothers said they were worried last year but not now.

“Since that first alarm compared to that, we're not that worried given that now we're vaccinated, both got our shots and just learning from experience from overseas, so we know what they've gone through and sort of know what to expect, so we're not that worried compared to what it was before,” Lorraine said.

 Security

Meanwhile, security is strict at the Tanoa Hotel quarantine site, where HMAF soliders are enforcing the perimeters.

Media reports in New Zealand identified the COVID positive case as a young LDS missionary, who had been overseas and stayed for several weeks in New Zealand before boarding the flight to Tonga. The person had tested negative before leaving. People who had been in close contact with the person, including Tongan consulate staff in New Zealand and others in the Tongan community, were required to isolate.