Category Advisory

12th August 2022

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for Children Aged 5-11 Years Old

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is conducting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 years old.

Children aged 5-11 years old require 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. The 2^nd dose will be due 6 weeks after the first dose.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will conduct the COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the following venues in the Central Division as per the schedule provided for Friday, 11^th August 2022. The same vaccination venues will also conduct opportunistic vaccination for 12+ and booster doses.

About the programme:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 5-11 years old, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has conducted school-based vaccination in Central Division. This will resume once the new school term begins.

The Consent Process

Consent of a parent/guardian will be obtained through the Consent Form to allow their child to receive the age-approved COVID-19 vaccination.

The consent process includes:

Onsite consent (consenting at the vaccination site):

This can be provided by a parent or guardian who is physically present with the minor at the vaccine site. The parent or guardian will sign an appropriate vaccine administration Consent Form.

Off-Site consent (consenting when not at the vaccination site):

• A consent form can also be taken home by children to be signed by the parent or guardian
• A letter can also be written/typed and signed by the parent or guardian.
• The acceptance of a letter of consent must be documented by the Vaccination Team and the letter should be retained with the patient record.
• The presence of a support person will be accommodated at all vaccine sites

Things to know following vaccination:

After receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, the child will have to wait for 20-30 minutes before being dismissed from the vaccination site. This is done so that medical staff can monitor that the child does not have any serious allergic reaction following vaccination.

Expected side-effects when at home:

On the arm where the child got injected:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

Throughout the rest of the body:

• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fever

Managing side effects at home:

These side effects are normal signs that their body is building protection and should go away in a few days.    They don’t last long and should not discourage your child from getting their 2nd dose or going about their daily life. If your child has side effects, you can:

• Give paracetamol to relieve the pain
• Ensure that your child gets enough rest and stays hydrated

In case the child shows any other rare or uncommon side effects following vaccination, immediately take them to the nearest hospital/health centre, for a thorough investigation of symptoms and treatment.

Last Updated on 2 years by Publishing Team

A second booster dose is available to those eligible

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will begin administering the second COVID-19 booster dose to the eligible population on Friday, 27th May 2022.

Fijians aged 18 years and above and who have taken their first booster dose, can receive their second booster after an interval of 4 months.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters can further enhance or restore protection that might have waned over time after your primary vaccination series and the previous booster dose.

People are protected best from severe COVID-19 illness when they stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which include a booster for many people, especially those who have severely or moderately weakened immune systems or medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease, HIV, etc.

Currently, more than 120,000 eligible Fijians have received their first COVID-19 booster. The Ministry of Health urges all eligible Fijians to get boosted because the virus and its new variants continue to be of concern and can cause a rise in the numbers of hospitalisations and deaths if the immunity from the vaccines in people lessens over time.

A COVID-19 booster is given when a person has completed their vaccine series, and protection against the virus has decreased over time.

24^th March 2022

Public Advisory

COVID – 19 Booster dose intervals shortened to 3 months after 2^nd dose.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has updated its recommendation for the COVID-19 booster dose, shortening the interval between the 2^nd dose and the booster dose.

Receiving booster doses is a way to increase protection through the strengthening of the body’s immune system. Global evidence from other countries has indicated that it is safe and effective to reduce the interval of the 2^nd and booster dose to three (3) months, and many countries such as Australia and New Zealand have included the amended timeframe for receiving booster doses in their COVID-19 vaccination program.

Effective from 25^th March 2022, Fijians aged 18 years and above who completed their primary dose (two-dose series) of COVID-19 vaccines, can receive their Moderna or Pfizer booster dose three (3) months after the second dose.

The booster dose will ensure that the protection against COVID-19 is even stronger and longer-lasting. A booster dose increases your protection against:

• Infection with the virus that causes COVID-19;
• Severe disease; and
• Dying from COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the nationwide COVID-19 booster program, at least 109,310 Fijians have received the booster dose. Fiji has to date, not witnessed any severe illness, hospitalization, or death of COVID-19 patients who have received their booster doses.

To help the keep lives of Fijians safe and protected from COVID-19, the Ministry of Health urges all booster eligible individuals to get receive their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

Last Updated on 2 years by Publishing Team

Influenza Advisory

While COVID-19 case numbers continue to remain low and trend downwards, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has noted an increase in people presenting with influenza-like illness at our health centres and hospitals. Surveillance testing is also showing an increase in lab-confirmed cases of influenza, though currently, the numbers are within the expected for this time of the year. We have also had 2 confirmed influenza cases admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at CWM Hospital in the last week.

Before the pandemic, Fiji’s influenza season typically began in January and ended by May/June. However, in 2020 and 2021 there was a marked decrease in cases of influenza detected, a trend that was also seen in other countries. It is likely that public health and social measures deployed for COVID-19 worked to decrease other respiratory viruses, including influenza. The current increase in cases suggests a return to pre-pandemic levels of seasonal influenza, however, it is also possible that decreased incidence of influenza in recent years will have led to decreased immunity in the community, and subsequently more people becoming ill than in a usual flu season.

Therefore, we are asking everyone to take precautions to avoid becoming infected with influenza.

What is influenza (“the flu”)?

Influenza is caused by influenza viruses, of which there are many different strains that change year to year. Some mild influenza symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, cough, or sore throat may be similar to the common cold, however, influenza is not the same as the common cold, as it can lead to serious diseases such as pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) especially in babies, people over age 60, pregnant women, people who have non-communicable diseases (e.g. lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease,  diabetes), the obese, and those who smoke.

Symptoms

Cough, sore throat, muscle/body aches, headache, fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, vomiting, and diarrhoea (more common in children).

While most people will develop these symptoms and recover in about 7-10 days, some will develop more serious illnesses that will require hospitalization. Please immediately seek medical care if you develop any of the following symptoms:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or heaviness in the chest, inability to stay awake or confusion, or any other symptom of concern (e.g. severe vomiting)

How is it spread?

You can catch influenza when an infected person sneezes or coughs and you breathe it in, or if you have direct contact or touch a surface or object that had flu virus on it and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes.

Prevention measures will be familiar as they are essentially the same as for COVID-19. Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose when in a public place, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, avoid crowds, stay home if you are sick, and cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze.

Care for children with cold and flu symptoms

Keep your child hydrated to reduce cold and flu symptoms and help them feel better. Fevers can result in dehydration. Your child may not feel as thirsty as they normally would, and they may be uncomfortable when drinking, so it is important to encourage them to drink plenty of fluids like fresh fruit juices and water (e.g. lemon juice).

Dehydration can be very serious in babies, especially if they’re under 3 months old. Go immediately to your nearest health centre or doctor if you suspect your baby is dehydrated. Some signs may include:

• no tears when crying
• dry lips
• the soft spot in the head that seem sunken-in
• decreased activity
• urinating less than three to four times in 24 hours

If your child is breastfed, attempt to breastfeed them more frequently than usual. Your baby may be less interested in breastfeeding if they’re sick. You may have to have several short feeding sessions or express breast milk and give in a small cup in order for them to consume enough fluid.

Clear up stuffed nasal passages and loosen mucous to ease cough

Careful use of a steam source in a closed room can help to relieve a stuffed nose and soften mucous to make coughing up mucous easier.

Saline drops for the nose can also be bought at pharmacies to soften nasal mucous and facilitate its discharge

Alternatively use a small amount of Vicks rub mixed with oil over heels of feet for children >3 months old

If your child is over 1-year-old, try giving honey for a cough instead of medication. You can give 2 to 5 milliliters (mL) of honey a few times during the day.

Encourage rest

Extra rest can help your child recover faster.

Fever

Your child may be very hot due to fever. Dress them lightly and avoid heavy blankets or excessive layers that could make them feel hotter. A mild fever does not need treatment as fever is the body’s way of fighting off an infection. A lukewarm bath can also help them cool off and wind down before taking a nap or going to sleep for the night.

Seek medical care

Sometimes even the best at-home care isn’t enough to help your little one make a full recovery. Seek medical care right away if your child:

• has a fever greater than 38°C for more than two days, or a fever of 40°C or higher for any amount of time
• has a fever of 38°C or higher and is under 3 months old
• has a fever that doesn’t get better after taking Panadol
• seems unusually drowsy or lethargic
• won’t eat or drink
• is wheezing or is short of breath

Prevention

After your child recovers, there are steps you can take to prevent cold and flu in the future. Wash all surfaces they came into contact with before or during their sickness. Encourage your children and other family members to wash their hands regularly to keep germs at bay.

Teach your child not to share food, drinks, or utensils when they eat. This assists with avoiding the spread of germs between them and their friends. Keep your child out of daycare or school when they are ill, especially if they have a fever. Keep them away from others with flu-like symptoms and avoid crowds.

Last Updated on 2 years by Publishing Team

2nd March 2022
Public Advisory

Individuals who are currently receiving the first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines will be administered with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reminds the public that currently there are no stocks of AstraZeneca vaccine in the country therefore, Pfizer is offered for primary series.

Additionally, both, Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are administered as booster doses to individuals aged 18 years and above. Individuals become eligible for the booster dose 5 months after they have received their 2nd dose.
Eligible individuals are encouraged to get their booster doses to maintain maximum and longer-lasting protection against severe consequences from COVID-19.

Last Updated on 3 years by Publishing Team