Tongan kids get vaccine, accused disputes warrest warrant, and Woolf continues as Tongan coach
Vaccine rollout in Tonga to younger children
Tonga has begun rolling out Pfizer covid vaccinations for children aged five to 11.
The programme started yesterday, with children lining up to receive their first doses at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa.
Photo: Supplied/ Tongan Ministry of Health
According to the latest update from Tonga's Ministry of Health, 90 percent of the Kingdom's eligible population (aged 12 and over) are double vaccinated, and only 2 percent remain unvaccinated.
There are 1,522 active cases with 11 officially recognised Covid deaths.
Fourth dose available in Tahiti
French Polynesia has begun offering a second booster of the Covid-19 vaccine to people aged between 60 and 79.
The wait gap is six months for this age group.
But those aged 80 and older now only need wait three months for the fourth jab.
Almost 81 percent of those 12 and older have had two jabs, but only 44 percent have chosen to have a booster shot.
The head of the vaccination programme Daniel Ponia said as the pandemic isn't over, he would like the inoculation level to reach at least 85 percent.
The pandemic has eased but has to date claimed 648 lives, most of them when the Delta variant hit last year.
Eighty percent of the elligible population is fully vaccinated, however 15 percent have not received any doses.
Charged Samoan man disputes arrest warrant
One of three men charged jointly with conspiring to murder former Samoa prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is disputing the authenticity of his arrest warrant.
Samoa Observer reports Talalelei Pauga, who is currently in Australian police custody awaiting extradition, had his application heard by Justice Lesatele Rapi Va'ai in the Supreme Court last Thursday.
Lawyer Tufuga Fagaloa Tufuga, acting for Pauga, told the court his client claims the arrest warrant was not properly issued as it was signed by a court registrar and not by a judge of the court.
The court was told Pauga has a pending hearing in Australia on the extradition order which is scheduled for June.
This prompted Justice Va'ai to suggest the application from the defence is an abuse of process that interferes with developments in Australia.
The Attorney General's office is opposing the application saying the defendant's application has no merit and grounds.
Small increase in covid cases in New Caledonia
New Caledonia has recorded a further 72 covid-19 cases.
The latest figure, covering the past week, brings the total number of cases since September to 60,457.
The death toll remains at 312 - all of them died after the Delta variant entered the community in September.
The official update makes no mention of any covid-19 patient still in hospital care.
Most pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted, but vaccinated travellers must still take a test two days after arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers must give a compelling reason to be admitted into the territory.
Woolf to continue as Tongan head coach
Kristian Woolf will continue to be head coach of Tonga's National rugby league team ahead of the June test match against New Zealand and the World Cup in England later this year.
The Kiwis match against Tonga in June could be accompanied by up to two tests across the Tasman on the same weekend.
The New Zealand side are set to make a long-awaited return in June.