By Sela Hopgood from RNZ

Covid-19 vaccination begins in the Northern Mariana Islands this weekend, but it is unclear when other Pacific nations will have access to the vaccine.

The Northern Marianas, which is a US territory, expects 5,000 doses of The Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to arrive during the week, and vaccinations will start today, said RNZ Pacific correspondent Mark Rabago.

The vaccine has been approved in the US and UK. It should be stored at an ambient temperature of -70C, and transported in special boxes, packed in dry ice.

Once shipped, it can be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator.

“A few weeks ago our government bought and received 10 ultra cold freezers. The freezers we ordered came from South Korea, and we have sent two to Tinian and Rota and the rest will be used in Saipan,” said Rabago.

The country has been sent a “mock pack” of the vaccine as a test, from the US federal government, to test the system they have for transporting and storing it, which is working, he said.

“There is a first priority group that will receive the first vaccine and they are healthcare workers, first responders, high-risk patients, and the elderly.”

Congressman and Northern Mariana Islander Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan volunteered for public injections, and governor Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres also said he and his family were willing to be vaccinated to show confidence in the vaccine, if they were asked.

New Zealand offers vaccines to six Pacific countries

New Zealand now has an agreement to secure enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone in the country, as well as everyone in Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands, if the governments of those countries accept the offer.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement this week, saying that if the vaccine proves to be safe and effective, then the government’s first priority is to vaccinate border workers, their vital staff and their household contacts.

Arrangements are for 750,000 vaccine series from Pfizer / BioNTech, 5m from Janssen, 3.8m from AstraZeneca and 5.36m from Novava.

And Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said $ 75 million in development assistance had been set aside to support global access to vaccines, and their launches.

That includes a $ 10 million donation to the COVAX program, which aims to provide vaccines to countries that may have difficulty purchasing it.

COVAX is co-chaired by the World Health Organization and Gavi, and an alliance of governments, drug companies, charities and aid organizations. It aims to deliver two billion doses of vaccine by the end of next year, which could be delivered to the most vulnerable 20 percent of people in 91 countries.

The program relies on cheaper, unapproved vaccines, rather than leading vaccines such as the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and despite having non-binding supply agreements with the three major vaccine developers, all have experienced significant trial delays.

Solomon Islands is looking for a vaccine for half of its population

Solomon Islands have applied for enough vaccines for about half of their population through the COVAX program, said Solomon Health Ministry spokesman Pauline McNeil.

Applications were made for more than 360,000 people, and if successful, these will be co-financed by the Solomon Islands Government.

“[We’ve] conduct a national cold chain capacity assessment, to examine the storage capacity of available vaccines, and identify gaps that must be overcome before receiving a Covid vaccine, “said McNeil.

The country has also established a coordinating committee and technical working group, which is supported by technical advisors at the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank.

Tonga is working through the WHO plan

Tonga Health Ministry chief executive Dr Siale ‘Akauola said the country had been working with development partners “for a long time” to prepare a vaccine.

The kingdom has also submitted a COVAC application for a vaccine, and is awaiting a response.

“We are aware of the efforts of all countries to have their populations vaccinated,” said Akauola.

“The Pfizer vaccine is a high-tech vaccine that requires a very sophisticated way to cool it and I think it’s probably beyond Tonga’s capacity to use that type of vaccine, but we will continue to watch and plan the best for Tonga.”

Authorities are working on a plan developed by WHO and UNICEF to help countries launch vaccines, and are being developed to suit Tonga’s needs.

– RNZ