Corona pandemic: Fiji puts unvaccinated officials on leave

The delta variant is also spreading rapidly in Fiji – now the government is getting serious: Those who work in the public service and are not vaccinated are initially on leave and can end up losing their job.

Field hospitals, overburdened hospitals, more than 40,000 infections with Covid 19: The delta variant has given the island nation a hard time. For a year, Fiji’s 900,000 residents got through the pandemic without being infected, their island location and the immediate closure of the borders had helped.

Only for yachts and superyachts, and that too, for a luxury vacation on private islands in paradise, could healthy travelers with healthy finances get an exception. Naumoto, Laucala, Kokomo – private islands with luxury bungalows are so far away from danger that nobody could get infected. That’s the idea.

But Fiji is not only active in tourism, but also in seafaring – and an aggressive virus cannot be locked out of paradise forever.

New rules since Sunday

“No vaccination, no work. It is now law,” said the country’s president, Frank Bainimarama. Public service employees in particular should not harm their compatriots by endangering them with a virus.

So since Sunday: Anyone who works in the public service and does not protect themselves against the virus with a vaccine will initially be sent on unpaid leave. And those who still haven’t had their vaccinations in November will be kicked out.

Pressure on the private sector too

The government is also putting pressure on the private sector that it is every entrepreneur’s duty of care to have himself and his employees vaccinated. Otherwise, your company could have to close.

Fiji received its first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine from the global vaccination initiative Covax in March, becoming the first country in the Pacific.

Addressing all opponents of the vaccination campaign and supporters of the conspiracy, the President of Fiji said:

God gave us brains to use. He directed the scientists and doctors who developed these vaccines – and they work, and they are safe.

If God’s influence is not enough as a reason, you may now be more motivated by the threat of job loss to get vaccinated.