New Caledonia TV crew attacked; Open-ended general strike looms in Tahiti; NZ sends Pfizer vaccine for 12-14 year old Fijians; Samoa govt plans second nationwide vaccination campaign

New Caledonia TV crew attacked

A crew of New Caledonia's public television has been assaulted at a protest rally outside the seat of government in Noumea.

The attack occurred as the team covered a gathering of about 200 people opposed to the health pass and the law making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory.

The protestors had gathered before dawn in the hope to confront the ministers.

The assault is the second in less than three weeks at an anti-vaxer rally.

The Nouvelle Caledonie Première broadcaster has condemned this latest attack.

It said the network continues to allow different groups to express their views, provided they respect the physical and professional integrity of its staff.

Open-ended general strike looms in Tahiti

Trade unions in French Polynesia say they are poised to issue a notice this week for an unlimited general strike.

Their demands include pay increases from the start of January, the creation of an unemployment benefit scheme, and the scrapping of the law making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory.

As the nine unions are finalising their position, they say the vaccination law exacerbated their misgivings.

The law will apply from 23 December to anyone dealing with the public.

The employer organisation said taking strike action now is incomprehensible because either the issues are under discussion, or the economic situation won't bear it.

It also questions the unions' stance in favour of vaccinations but against the vaccination law, saying in the global urgency of a pandemic, such a position is no longer acceptable.

NZ sends Pfizer vaccine for 12-14 year old Fijians

New Zealand says it's providing enough Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to innoculate Fijian children aged 12 to 14 years with two doses.

A spokesperson at New Zealand's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade said the first batch of just over 30-thousand doses (31,500 or 5,250 vials) of the Pfizer vaccine were sent to Fiji last week.

The Ministry said more Pfizer doses will be supplied when Fiji's government requests them.

New Zealand has already sent a total of 100-thousand doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine to Fiji.

The vaccination rollout for children aged 12 to 14 gets underway in Fiji this week.

Fiji's Health Ministry said as of 12 November, 23,215 students aged 15-17 have been fully vaccinated.

There are 553,096 or 89.5 percent of the adult population who hav received both jabs.

Samoa govt plans second nationwide vaccination campaign

The Samoa government is planning a second nationwide lockdown for this Friday 19 November in efforts to attain 99 percent coverage of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the latest lockdown was recommended by the National Emergency Operations Committee and approved by Cabinet.

The lockdown will not affect government offices and the business community will continue with business as usual.

The latest data released by Samoa's Ministry of Health shows a 95 percent of the eligible adults have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 70.5 percent have had their second dose.

Two weeks ago, children aged between 12 and 17 years started being vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, donated by the New Zealand government.

Vaccination teams have been going to schools across Samoa and have so far administered first doses to 21,402 teenagers.

Director General of Health Leausa Dr Take Naseri has recently told media that his office would feel comfortable to slowly open borders if 90 percent coverage is achieved nationwide.