New Zealand has offered to donate 250,000 doses of their batch of vaccines to Fiji, in a move that has been widely welcomed as the country contends with its second wave of the COVID19 pandemic.
The consignment is not due to arrive until around the third quarter of the year as it still has to be approved by Medsafe before it can be used in New Zealand and donated to Fiji.
New Zealand Associate Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio and Fiji Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete announced the news today.
“New Zealand and Fiji are working together closely to support Fiji with access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity,” the ministers said.
Both ministers stressed that there are still a number of steps to work through before the vaccines can be delivered. The vaccine still has to be approved by Medsafe before it can be used in New Zealand and donated to Fiji.
The Ministers met virtually last week to discuss New Zealand’s offer, which also includes $2 million of Official Development Assistance to support Fiji’s vaccine rollout.
“Fiji has worked hard to keep COVID-19 contained and New Zealand has been committed to supporting it in this,” Sio said. “But this success has been hard-won. Following recent community cases in both our countries, we see a vaccine as key to protecting our people from the virus, and for our economic and social recovery.
“Fiji has chosen to roll out AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following earlier deliveries through the COVAX AMC and from India, and we are delighted New Zealand has been able to support us to continue our campaign,” Dr Waqainabete said.
