New Zealand Donates Additional Pfizer Vaccines to Tonga and Samoa to Assist Booster Rollouts
Tonga and Samoa are set to receive additional doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines from the Government of New Zealand. The announcement was made last week by NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta with Associate Health Minister Aupito William Sio.
“Aotearoa New Zealand is donating an additional 9,300 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Tonga, and 10,000 doses to Samoa,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “With Tonga now in lockdown and COVID-19 detected at the border in Samoa, ensuring populations are boosted will play a key role in mitigating the impacts of an outbreak”.
Aupito William Sio said both Samoa and Tonga have done an impressive job of vaccinating their people against Covid-19, and the donations are part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to global vaccination efforts and support to vaccine rollout in the Pacific.
“These vaccines will enable frontline workers and vulnerable populations to access a booster as early as possible,” added Aupito.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules departed Base Auckland Whenuapai on Saturday 5 February, carrying the vaccines, rapid antigen tests, and equipment to support re-establishing the electrical network for Tonga.
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