Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says a 55-year-old fully vaccinated woman with underlying medical conditions passed away on the 28th of August after she went to the Nadi Hospital in severe respiratory distress on the same day.
Dr Fong says her family reported that she was feeling unwell with generalized weakness, a cough, shortness of breath and a reduced appetite two weeks prior to her presentation.
He says she received the first dose of the vaccine in late May and she received the second dose of the vaccine on the 23rd of July.
Dr Fong adds although she was fully vaccinated she had underlying medical conditions and background of poor general health.
He says these pre-existing conditions would have toned down her ability to mount a good vaccine-induced immune response and thus impair her ability to fully benefit from the protective effects of the vaccine.
Dr Fong further says their advice is that we all need to continue practicing strict COVID-19 safety measures to protect our vulnerable family members, irrespective of the vaccination status.
The Health Ministry announced 7 new COVID-19 deaths for the period from the 27th to 30th August 2021.
All 7 deaths reported yesterday were from the Western Division.
The second COVID-19 death to report is a 76-year-old woman from Ba who died at home on the 29th of August. She was not vaccinated.
The third COVID-19 death to report is a 72-year-old man from Rakiraki. He presented to the Rakiraki Hospital in severe respiratory distress on the 27th of August and passed away on the same day. He was not vaccinated.
The fourth COVID-19 death to report is an 83-year-old woman from Rakiraki. She presented to the Rakiraki Hospital in severe respiratory distress. She was not vaccinated.
The fifth COVID-19 death to report is a 74-year-old woman from Rakiraki who died at home on the 29th of August. She was not vaccinated.
The sixth COVID-19 death to report is a 53-year-old man from Nadi. He presented to the Nadi Hospital in severe respiratory distress. A medical team from Nadi transferred him to the Lautoka Hospital. He died 12 days after admission on 30th August. He was not vaccinated.
The seventh COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old woman from Tavua. She presented to the Tavua Hospital in severe respiratory distress. A medical team from Tavua transferred her to the Lautoka Hospital. She died 7 days after admission on 29th August. She was not vaccinated.
There has been one death of a COVID-19 positive patient. However, this death has been classified as a non-COVID death by the doctors. The doctors have determined that the death was caused by a serious pre-existing medical condition and not COVID-19.
There have now been 496 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 494 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.
As of August 26th, the national 7 day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 6. The 7 day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 2 and in the Western Division is 4.
