21 September 2021
Minister of Health Rose Vainetutai Brown says she’s grateful to New Zealand for providing more COVID-19 vaccine to cover our country’s 12 to 15 year old population. It is estimated there are just over 1200 young people in the 12 to 15 years age range.
New Zealand has bought enough supplies of the Pfizer vaccine to cover it’s own population as well as 12 to 15 year olds in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau; known as ‘the Realm Countries’.
New Zealand is also in discussions with Tonga, Samoa and Fiji about donating vaccine to those countries too.
Minister Brown says, “We really appreciate this contribution of vaccine from our good friends in New Zealand and the major difference it will make to keeping safe the young people of the region and their anau. The vaccine is expected to arrive in October and we will provide details of the rollout closer to the time.”
The Minister of Health is urging young people to talk to their parents and anau about the possibility of being vaccinated and to consult the Te Marae Ora website for more information – www.health.gov.ck
The vaccine supplies that will arrive next month will also be used for about 200 people who didn’t get fully vaccinated in the rollout earlier this year for those aged 16 and over, and who appear to have had second thoughts. About 100 now want the vaccine; and a further 103 who had their first vaccine but didn’t turn up for their second, would now like to complete the process.
ENDS: For more information, please visit www.health,gov.ck or contact Jaewynn McKay; jaewynn.mckay@cookislands.gov.ck +682 55486