RAROTONGA (Cook Islands News/Pacnews) — The rollout for the first dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine is complete and the second dose is nearing completion in Cook Islands.
Marking the last island to get the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine, the entire eligible population of Palmerston received the first shot last week.
As Palmerston is only accessible by sea, the vaccines were delivered to the remote island by the Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS Wellington and crew on Thursday.
The surrounding coral reef is hard to navigate without local knowledge, so the vaccines were transferred to the Cook Islands Police boat Te Kukupa’s inflatable boat. Both doses of the vaccines were safely navigated through the reef to waiting officials on the island.
Palmerston’s executive officer Arthur Neale said he was pleased the 18 eligible people for the vaccine turned up to get vaccinated.
Neale said the vaccination process was done in an hour. “The teams were quite efficient, we didn’t even know we had a jab,” he said.
The Navy left the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Palmerston. The vaccines are stored in a freezer supplied by Te Marae Ora or TMO Ministry of Health. The vaccines in storage will be unlocked on August 12 when Te Kukupa returns with TMO staff to administer the shot.
“Both doses of the vaccines were safely navigated through the reef to waiting officials on the island.”
As of last Wednesday, 11,397 people had received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine which is over the Cook Islands’ eligible population of 10,189 people.
Te Marae Ora spokesperson Jaewynn McKay said the excess numbers were due to returning Cook Islanders and foreign workers who were not registered.
The majority of the Southern Group have all completed the second dose of vaccinations. On Wednesday it equated to 9,846 people fully vaccinated, which is 96% of the eligible population.
With more second doses still to be administered, the total number of fully vaccinated Cook Islands residents is set to exceed the eligible population.
Neale said the vaccine put the island at ease but there was still a need to be vigilant because the world was still in a pandemic.
The doctor who administered the vaccines also carried out health checks. Neale said the doctor was busy with consultations the whole time.
Along with the doctor, a dentist was also brought to the island. Neale said the dentist addressed some urgent cases.
“The people of Palmerston were very appreciative of the doctor and dentist,” he said.
Before reaching Palmerston, the HMNZS Wellington and crew delivered vaccines to Tokelau.
Commanding Officer Philip Davies said the mission to drop the vaccines to both places took three months to plan.
Davies said the combination of the remote locations, specific handling, cold storage and transportation requirements for the vaccines had to all be taken into consideration.
“It was gratifying to have completed the mission and to have helped protect the communities of Tokelau and Palmerston Island,” Davies said. “The ship’s crew can be proud of what they’ve achieved here to support these communities.”
