Suva, Fiji– To support the Government of Fiji’s efforts against COVID-19, the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), donated 33,600 Pfizer pediatric vaccine doses for Fijians aged 5 to 11 on November 4. This is the first U.S pediatric COVID-19 vaccine donation to Fiji, and builds on the 150,080 life-saving vaccines that the U.S. government, through the COVAX facility, has already donated to protect Fijians against the disease.
“The U.S. government remains a steadfast partner of the government and the people of Fiji in preventing the further spread of COVID-19 ,” said U.S. Embassy Suva Chargé d’affaires Tony Greubel. “We are pleased to continue our close collaboration to help the country bounce back from this global health crisis and build the country’s resilience against future pandemics.”
Last month, USAID Philippines, Pacific Islands and Mongolia Mission Director Ryan Washburn and Deputy Mission Director Betty Chung visited a COVID-19 and measles vaccination clinic at Nausori Health Center in Fiji. To help combat COVID-19, USAID has partnered with UNICEF to provide emergency medical equipment and supplies, implement risk communication campaigns, train healthcare workers, and support mass vaccination campaigns. USAID is also partnering with UNICEF and the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services to carry out measles vaccination campaigns.
To date, the U.S. government, through USAID, has provided over $57 million to Pacific Islands countries, including Fiji, to manage the negative impacts of the pandemic.