Results for vaccination

There has been considerable opposition to vaccine mandates – opposition that I have argued is misguided. When both a vaccinated and an unvaccinated patient with COVID-19 need the last available bed in a hospital’s intensive care unit, the vaccinated patient should get it. Those who view vaccination as a “personal choice” need to bear personal responsibility for choosing to place others’ lives at risk. Exceptions should be made for those few patients for whom vaccination is contra-indicated on medical grounds, but not for those who claim to have religious grounds for exemption. No major religion rejects vaccination, and if some people choose to interpret their religious beliefs as requiring them to avoid vaccination, then they, and not others, should bear the consequences. By Peter Singer

Tonga’s first COVID-19 positive case is believed to be a historical case, after testing a weak positive today in a third test, “we believe he is not infectious,” said Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola this afternoon. By Eleanor Gee.

The inoculation of 12-17 years-old with the Pfizer vaccine at schools in Tongatapu continued today to Tonga High School senior students to protect them against COVID-19.

Over 23,641 people have received the second dose of the COVID-19 Astra-Zeneca vaccine in Tonga, since the second roll out program started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa. This is nearly a quarter of the population.

To date, over 10,758 people have received their second AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination on Tongatapu.

To date over 7625 people in Tonga have received their second dose of the COVID-19 Astra-Zeneca vaccine, since the second vaccination roll out started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa. Meanwhile, the Ministry aims to inoculate up to 70 percent of Tonga's population by December this year.

New York Times reporting: Three days after the emergence of a rare COVID-19 case in Sydney, around 40 friends gathered for a birthday party. Along with cake and laughter, there was a hidden threat: One of the guests had unknowingly crossed paths with that single COVID case, an airport driver who had caught the Delta variant from an American aircrew. Two weeks later, 27 people from the party have tested positive. And the seven people at the gathering who were not infected? They were all vaccinated. By Damien Cave.

The roll out of the second doses of COVID-19 vaccine began today, June 24. A total of 28,667 people have received their first doses in Tonga.

Tonga’s precious supply of covid vaccine can now be extended to thousands more people thanks to the skills of the Tongan nurses, who have not wasted a drop of the first batch received this month. People aged 35 years and over can now be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. By Eleanor Gee