A 11 months old boy is part of the 6 new COVID-19 deaths announced by Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong while there are 1163 new COVID cases.
The 11-month-old infant was from Delaivalalevu.
He was brought to CWM Hospital in severe respiratory distress and died on the same day on 19th July.
He had fever and fast breathing for 3 days before he was taken to the hospital.
Doctor Fong says severe disease and death due to COVID among infants are rare, however, the doctors overseeing this baby’s care confirm that he did die because of COVID-19.
He says we know that once a very high level of infections is reached in the community, these rare events do occur.
The Permanent Secretary says this is an absolute tragedy when the most vulnerable in our community, our babies, become victims of this awful disease.
He says this is why the Ministry of Health is following the science and advice of WHO very closely with regards to the vaccination of those below the age of 18, and they are making arrangements to import more vaccines once they know that they are proven to offer safe and effective protection for children against the virus.
Doctor Fong says while we await these vaccines for the younger age group they also remind you that every time you vaccinate, you also help to protect those not eligible for vaccination - including our children.
He also says among the deaths announced this week was a second nurse who was a front-liner. She was not vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says in line with government policy, she was on leave at the time she became infected.
He says as previously announced, they have set their personal protective equipment distribution program to ensure that the large stocks they have are always readily available to all health care workers at the frontline, especially those who work in Critical Care Units and Emergency Departments.
Doctor Fong says by ensuring that our Health Care workers are fully vaccinated, well trained in PPE use and are diligent in helping each other to maintain PPE discipline in the workplace, we will be able to maintain health worker numbers in all our health facilities.
To date nobody has died in Fiji from COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated.
