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Only 10 percent of Fiji’s population will be inoculated against the H1N1 flu if a second wave hits Fiji, says permanent secretary for Health Dr Salanieta Saketa.
Saketa told FijiLive that the batch of H1N1 vaccines had been received and her ministry was working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prepare for a vaccination exercise if the need arose.
“It will be just the vaccination of high risk groups because what we’re getting is a donation,” Saketa said.
“And basically the donation at this stage is to cover 10 percent of the population.”
She said a list of who would be included in the 10 percent would be given to Cabinet for approval.
“At this stage we cannot release any information. It will be finalised and then it will have to go to Cabinet to approve who might be the first 10 percent to receive H1N1 vaccine. It will shortly be revealed once Cabinet approves.”
The ministry had named pregnant women, children and the elderly as high risk groups during the first wave of H1N1 infections in Fiji earlier this year.
The WHO had earlier said it could not be predicted whether a second wave of the virus would hit Fiji and other Pacific island countries but said it would be best for countries in the region to be prepared.
