COVID-19 vaccinations begin in the Northern Mariana Islands this weekend, but it s not yet clear when other Pacific countries will have access to a vaccine.
The Northern Marianas, which is a US territory, was expecting 5000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to arrive during the week, and vaccinations were expected to start on Saturday, RNZ Pacific correspondent Mark Rabago said. The vaccine had already been approved in the US and the UK.
It must be stored at around -70C, and transported in special boxes, packed in dry ice.
Once delivered, it can be kept for up to five days in a fridge.
Covid-19 coronavirus: Vaccine roll out starts in parts of the Pacific
19 Dec, 2020 08:39 AM
4 minutes to read
BioNTech and Pfizer s mRNA coronavirus vaccine. Photo / Supplied
RNZ
By Sela Hopgood of RNZ
Covid-19 vaccinations begin in the Northern Mariana Islands this weekend, but it s not yet clear when other Pacific countries will have access to a vaccine.
The Northern Marianas, which is a US territory, was expecting 5,000 doses of The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to arrive during the week, and vaccinations to start today, RNZ Pacific correspondent Mark Rabago said.
The vaccine had already been approved in the USA and UK. It must be stored at around -70C, and transported in special boxes, packed in dry ice.