By RNZ Pacific
The first delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine has arrived on Niue, raising the prospect of a travel bubble with New Zealand.
The small number of doses in the first batch will be used to inoculate the vaccinators and other important people.
A much larger delivery will arrive next Wednesday, enabling the wider roll-out to start.
Niue’s Ministery of Health said it’s important for everyone 16 years and over to get vaccinated to protect the country.
It said with assistance from the New Zealand Government, there will be enough doses to fully cover Niue’s eligible population.
And it’s reassuring that New Zealand will provide any additional help needed for a successful vaccination programme.
Niue has remained completely untouched by the pandemic, with no cases or deaths from Covid-19 reported.
Its premier, Dalton Tagelagi, has said he would be eager to reopen to visitors from New Zealand once the vaccine programme is complete.
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said that her country is ready once Niue is ready.
