Fijian Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says the ministry is working to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine that can fit into our current cold chain system.
He said the Government was having talks with development partners such as Australia and New Zealand to secure the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines.
“Certainly the ability to have minus 18 degrees is difficult and so what we want to do is have a vaccine that can use our current cold chain system and so AstraZeneca seems to be able to use the current cold chain system that we have and also there are discussions that the Moderna vaccine will also be the same,” he said.
Dr Waqainabete said the ministry had a plan in place in case Fiji was to use a vaccine that might require a more cold chain system.
“From our point of view, whichever World Health Organization (WHO) standardised approved vaccine is available that can be used, we want it as soon as we can but we also have to remember that right around the world many countries have actually purchased vaccines and they are still waiting for the vaccines.
“Whichever WHO-certified vaccine is available to us, we will take it. We will develop the cold chain system including our plans around if we have to utilise a vaccine that requires a more difficult cold chain system, we have plans on how we get to work around that.”
The Health Minister said the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine was expected to arrive in the country by April this year.
