AstraZeneca vaccine

The decision comes after hundreds of medical workers caught Covid despite being fully vaccinated with Sinovac.

Instead of two Sinovac shots, people will now receive the AstraZeneca vaccine after their first Sinovac shot.

Health workers already fully vaccinated with Sinovac will also receive a third booster from a different vaccine.

This can be either the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer/BioNTech. This third dose will be given three to four weeks after their second Sinovac jab, said the country's National Infectious Disease Committee on Monday.

President Lionel Aingimea and Madam Aingimea were among the first to receive the second dose shot today.

Nauru Media News – NTV reports those who received their first injection of the COVID vaccine from April 9 to 12 will be the first to get the second dose shot.

According to COVID vaccine Coordinator Celestine Eoaeo the first group to receive their second dose jabs is over 1000.

A vaccination booth is conveniently set up at the Government Office and Public Health Centre for the second dose shots of the AstraZeneca Vaccine.

That is despite several European countries and Australia limiting its use because of safety concerns.

In Australia, the Pfizer vaccine is now the preferred option for people under 50, Britain is offering an alternative for those under 30, while France and Belgium recommend AstraZeneca be given to those 55 and over.

European regulators said earlier this month they had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine and a rare blood clotting problem that led to a small number of deaths.

The Nauru Government has extended its gratitude to the Governments of Australia and India for the generous support in securing and enabling the delivery of the vaccines.

The first consignment of 7,200 doses arrived on Thursday 1 April.

The Government initially purchased the vaccines however, will now be fully reimbursed by the Government of Australia as part of its assistance for Nauru in achieving its Covid-19 prevention measures.