17 May 2021
With the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccine now here and the vaccination process about to
commence, Prime Minister Mark Brown is urging all Cook Islands residents to take
advantage of this opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.
First to be vaccinated will be our frontline health workers and border staff, followed by
Rarotonga-based accommodation staff.
As an example to our people, the country’s Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament,
House of Ariki representatives and other community leaders will also be vaccinated this
week.
Vaccination for members of the general public on Rarotonga is then scheduled to proceed
from May 22, and it is envisioned that all eligible Rarotonga residents will have received their
first dose of the vaccine by June 1, before vaccination begins on Aitutaki from June 2 and
across the rest of the Pa Enua from June 28.
All Rarotonga residents should have received their second dose of the vaccine by June 21,
Aitutaki residents by June 24, and the entire rest of the Pa Enua by August 5.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is that all our eligible residents make use of this
vaccine,” said Prime Minister Brown.
“It is free. It is effective. It will save lives. There is no doubting this fact.”
The COVID-19 vaccine we are utilising is the Pfizer vaccine, which is also being used in
New Zealand and has been shown to be 95 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic
infection.
All residents in the Cook Islands aged 16 and over are eligible for vaccination and the
government has secured sufficient vaccine stocks to vaccinate the entire eligible population
of the Cook Islands.
Further details on the timing of the vaccine rollout, the vaccination process and other
pertinent information will be provided by Te Marae Ora over the coming days and will also be made available on the TMO website at covid19.gov.ck/vaccination.
Ends: Any enquiries to Press Secretary, Jaewynn McKay +682 55486