Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health is advising the public that the booster dose of Pfizer is now available for the Rarotonga and Aitutaki community.

According to the Ministry’s Covid-19 website there were three new Covid-19 cases as of June 28.

The ministry stated that from the three new cases, two were visitors from overseas.

Health secretary Bob Williams confirms there has ‘not’ been an increase in Covid cases, but Covid is still around in some parts of the world and the Cook Islands is seeing an increase in visitors.

The Ministry is therefore creating awareness on a one off booster shot.

On May 5, the World Health Organisation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had declared that the spread of Covid-19 was no longer a global public health emergency.

Williams said: “No but covid is still around in some parts of the world as we now experience an increase in visitors to the Cook Islands.”

Williams said this is a one off booster shot as they try to order at minimum to avoid wastage but the order can be increased to meet demand.

The booster dose will provide an extra layer of protection to your previous vaccination, keeping your protection levels high. The Pfizer vaccine does not require a consent form.

TMO says the boosters are especially for people over the age of 65, Maori and Pacific Island people over the age of 50.

You can get an additional booster if you are above the age of 30, pregnant and aged 16 or over, aged 12 to 29 and at higher risk of severe illness.

The Ministry is also advising the public that there are flu vaccines available at the Tupapa Primary Health Care Centre. You can call 20065 / 66 for an appointment.

Williams said: “As we are in our winter, anyone can catch the flu anytime. We have 2,500 doses and it’s free for our people to receive a flu vax.”