Results for CoViD-19 vaccine

Six new COVID-19 positive cases were announced by Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni today Tuesday, Feb. 8, bringing the total number of active positive cases in Tonga to 13. They are all close contacts of earlier cases. Two were believed infected while kava drinking at Pili, and the other four are a family of an earlier case at Vaini, with both areas are identified as hotspots in the current outbreak.

Aotearoa New Zealand is donating an additional 9,300 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Tonga, and $3 million in humanitarian funding. A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules has departed Base Auckland Whenuapai earlier today, Feb. 5, carrying the vaccines, rapid antigen tests, and equipment to support re-establishing the electrical network.

Around 7,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, donated by the Japanese Government via COVAX, arrived in Tonga this afternoon, Tuesday. “I hope today’s vaccines could help accelerate the on-going inoculation and that we could make the Kingdom well prepared before it comes,” said HE Mr Kensaku Munenaga. However, we cannot, we should not keep closing our border forever, he said. “Only with a change of the policy, Tongans who have been stuck outside of the Kingdom can meet their families here in Tonga.”

People on Tongatapu should use the weekend to prepare for a potential lock down next week, after Tonga’s first positive COVID-19 case was confirmed today. The Prime Minster Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa this evening urged people to use this time to get ready in case more people are confirmed to have the virus.

Over 27,458 people over the age of 18 years in Tonga, have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, since the second dose roll out program started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa, the Ministry of Health confirmed today, 10 September. This represents 43% of the targeted population of 63,128 aged over 18.

Tonga is set to introduce compulsory inoculation against coronavirus disease. A Bill to amend the Public Health Act to enforce inoculation of the public against COVID-19, was among seven Bills that government tabled into parliament yesterday, 3 August. The Bill was carried unanimously on its first reading and passed on to a Standing committee. Full details of the amendment have not been released to the public. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Around 19,200 doses of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine arrived on an Air New Zealand cargo flight in Tonga this afternoon, confirmed Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa. These are for the second doses of people who have been innocculated. So far, over 20,000 people in Tonga have received their first shots.

Tonga is now one of six countries in the Pacific region to remain CoViD-19 free to date.

New Zealand is increasing its chances of securing access to a CoViD-19 vaccine when it becomes available, after announcing millions of dollars to support domestic and international vaccine efforts. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is also ensuring Pacific Island countries are supported.