As is customary with any major event in Niue, the rollout of the vaccine for the first thirty people on the island started with a prayer by the Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue president Reverend Nuka Tauevihi.
The Minister of Health Sauni Tongatule followed by the NZ deputy High Commissioner Nigel were the first people to receive the Pfizer vaccine this afternoon at the Niuefoou hospital.
Reverend Nuka Tauevihi was next followed by the Acting Director of the Ministry of Social Services Moira Enetama at the Niuefoou.
The first vaccine doses were administered at 1pm this afternoon by Dr. Waimanu Pulu and Head of Public Health Grizelda Mokoia.
The hospital courtyard has been converted into a vaccination centre with several booths set up.
Other senior public servants who received the first jabs today include the Director of Education Birtha Tongahai, Chief of Police Tim Wilson, and Head of National Disaster Management Office Robin Hekau.
Some frontline staff working at the airport and hospital staff were seen in the hospital reception area this afternoon waiting to receive their vaccine.
Today’s first run is the start of several weeks of the vaccination rollout. People going in to take the jab were firstly screened, testing their blood pressure, temperature, and general health before moving on to receive the jab on your arm.
After receiving your jab, you will wait in a designated area to be observed for any side effects. As you leave the vaccination centre you are given a certificate which says that you have been vaccinated.
The Minister of Health Sauni Tongatule, smiling for the cameras posed with his certificate after receiving his first dose. The people vaccinated today will receive their second jab in two weeks.
A much larger consignment of the vaccine will arrive next week on June 8th after which the public roll out of the vaccine will then commence.
The third consignment carrying the final Pfizer doses to complete the first phase of the vaccine rollout will arrive on 15th June.