The Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) this week hosted the second of a series of virtual panel discussions regarding the vaccine, the COVID test and other questions related to the pandemic and prevention of efforts.

Chaired by the CMNHS Associate Dean Research and Director of the Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research (FIPHR), Dr Donald Wilson, the panellists consisted of:

1. Professor Peter McIntyre, who is a paediatrician specialising in infectious diseases and vaccines who is also qualified as a public health physician.
2. Associate Professor James Ussher, who is an immunologist and clinical microbiologist at the University of Otago and Southern Community Laboratories.
3. Ana Rokomokoti, who is a Lecturer in Law at the Department of Law, School of Accounting and Law, College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies at Fiji National University.
4. Dr Alisha Sahukhan, who is an infectious disease epidemiologist and public health physician.

The panelists each spoke in their areas of expertise and answered questions from members of the public that were sent through a dedicated email address covidquestionsfnu@gmail.com or messaged during the Livestream session.

During the session, Professor Peter Mclntyre explained the balance between the benefits and risks of vaccination.

“Compared to the sorts of risks that COVID represents, which we’ve been protected from in the Pacific… the way out of all the restrictions and the difficult times that we’ve had to go through and that’s been the case for Fiji, is the vaccine,” said Prof Mclntyre.

“The overwhelming message is that the benefits of the vaccines greatly exceed the risks. Sure vaccines are not 100 per cent effective against preventing everything and they’re not 100 per cent safe but if you compare the benefits with the risks, it’s really a very clear decision to make.”

Professor McIntyre also highlighted the differences between AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines which are being used by Australia.

With regards to Fiji using the PCR and GeneXpert for testing, Professor James Ussher stated that these are the most sensitive tests as they can detect as little as one virus in a sample and they are also incredibly specific and accurate.

“Now, as far as the different sorts of tests go, there are a variety of different machines or platforms on which you can test for the virus. They’re using exactly the same technology, they’re all using amplification of the genome and the gene expert using RTPCR just like the other tests that are available in Fiji now,” Prof Ussher said.

While explaining a person’s rights as far as vaccination is concerned, Ana Rokomokoti stated that the reference point is the 2013 Fijian Constitution, which contains a Bill of Rights. Within these rights is the right to freedom from medical treatment without informed consent.

“So the requirements for that is, before an individual gets or gives the consent, he or she needs to have the necessary information – medical, scientific, in order to bring him or her to that place of decision making on whether or not to consent,” explained Rokomokoti.

Addressing the question of how death is classified as a COVID death, Dr Alisha Sahukhan said they follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria for the classification.

Dr Sahukhan also explained the science behind the lockdowns in terms of controlling an outbreak like COVID-19.

Click here to access the virtual panel discussion and detailed highlights of the event.

The next session will be held on Monday, 21 June between 1 pm – 2 pm which will be a Recap of the Facts and Key Lessons from our First Four Panel Discussions. In this special recap session, the Head of the Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research (FIPHR) at the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences (CMNHS) Dr Donald Wilson reviews the Facts and Key Lessons from the First Four Panel Discussions regarding COVID-19 and the AZ vaccine. For details regarding this recap session refer to attachment 2.