AstraZeneca vaccines

Health authorities received the vaccines yesterday.

The extra doses will support Tonga’s Covid-19 vaccine roll-out programme, with the Ministry of Health aiming to inoculate 70% of the total population before repatriation from high risk countries can begin.

Japanese Ambassador, Kensaku Munenaga said, “I hope today’s vaccines could help accelerate the on-going inoculation and that we could make the Kingdom well prepared before it [Covid-19] comes.”

The vaccines have been supplied through the COVAX facility

The batch contained around 36,800 doses of the vaccine

Minister Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu said “I thank the governments of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, and other countries and orgnizations for supporting Tonga during this difficult time.”

The doses will help start vaccination rollout in Ha’apai and the Niuas.

The ministry has confirmed that another batch of vaccines is expected from Australia, and New Zealand also plans to provide the Pfizer vaccines, which the Kingdom would use to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 years old and pregnant women.

Yesterday’s consignment of 10,000 doses enables Tonga to offer comprehensive coverage for Tongatapu, and the outer islands of Ha’apai and the Niuas.

Australia has committed to providing 45,000 Australian-made AstraZeneca vaccines to Tonga this year.

This supports efforts of an international coalition in Tonga including Australia and Japan that is ensuring comprehensive national vaccine coverage by the end of 2021.

The shipment follows the 9,000 Australian-manufactured doses which arrived on 20 July for the people of Vava’u.