83% of eligible population fully vaccinated in Tonga [1]
Thursday, January 6, 2022 - 17:49
By Eleanor Gee
Around 83% of eligible population in Tonga have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 up to January 6, the Ministry of Health confirmed today. (This represents about 60% of the total population.)
This means 64,047 people out of a total of 76,911 eligible people over the age of 12 years are protected against the virus.
Meanwhile, at lleast 96% (73,938) of the eligible population have received their first doses.
The previous government had stated that once 70% of Tonga's total population (105,924) is fully vaccinated, repatriation flights from high risk countries would start. Out of Tonga's total population around 60% of people have now been fully vaccinated.
The COVID-19 virus has reached most countries around the world including Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, the countries that have direct air links with Tonga.
This month, repatriation flights have been tentatively scheduled for January 18 from Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji (for stranded passengers), and possibly Samoa, while a repatriation flight from New Zealand is also tentative for January 20.
However, the national taskforce for COVID-19 in Tonga will meet tomorrow to make recommendations to cabinet regarding repatriation flights and protocols for arriving passengers.