Tonga will receive more Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from Australia in the New Year for booster shots, the Minister for Health, Hon Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu said today.

“We need to speed up the third dose [booster doses] to protect our country from the new Omicron variant.” she said.

“And we thank the Australian High Commissioner HE Racheal Moore. They have advised they will assist us and provide the Pfizer vaccines in the new year, 2022.”

However, the Minister urged people to come and use the current stock of AstraZeneca Vaccine.

So far, 96% (73,725) of the eligible population of 76,911 aged 12 years and above have received their first doses, while 77% (58,877) have been fully vaccinated (see table below).

Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said between now and the end of December, the fully vaccinated should be around 80%, and as we go into January, that number should increase to over 80%.

“We are targeting for all those who have received their first doses to receive their second doses early next year.”

The Ministry of Health aims to fully vaccinate 70% of Tonga's total population of 105,924.

Around 69.6 % of the total population have now received their first dose, while 55.6% of the total population have been fully vaccinated.

Expired vaccines

Some of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine vials had expired on December 13 and have been discarded.

Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said the left overs are from the 9,380 vials donated to Tonga earlier this year.

“Out of this, COVAX expected us to use 10 doses out of each vial. ‘That’s 93,800 doses. That was COVAX’s target which is 100%.”

He said doses over that amount could be wasted.

“In Tonga, we were very effective and efficient. Out of the 9,380 vials, Tonga extracted 107,000 doses. So that is over COVAX’s target.”

Meanwhile, the current stock of Pfizer vaccines is due to expire on Monday December 20.

Medical Superintendent, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola confirmed that any remaining doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday would be used as booster shots for frontliners so as not to waste them.

She added that according to researchers, it is better to mix the vaccine types which provides better protection.

Omicron variant

Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola said the new omicron variant has reached New Zealand and Fiji.

She explained that while not a lot is known about this variant, it does spread faster than the Delta variant and is not as severe.

However, this could be because a lot more people have been fully vaccinated, she added, or it could be that the variant is causing less damage to people who have it.

“I plead with the people in Tonga to please come and get vaccinated as it has been confirmed that the vaccine will reduce the effect of the illness in the person who has the virus.”

Repatriation flights in January

MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u confirmed repatriation flights from Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji (for stranded passengers), and Samoa have been tentatively scheduled for January 18.

And a repatriation flight from New Zealand has been scheduled for January 20.

So far, 3,122 people have been repatriated to Tonga since the border restrictions began in March 2020.