The first delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine has arrived on Niue, raising the prospect of a travel bubble with New Zealand.
Niue hopes to reopen to tourism once the vaccination programme is complete. Photo: AFP / Michael Runkel
The small number of doses in the first batch will be used to inoculate the vaccinators and other important people.
A much larger delivery will arrive next Wednesday, enabling the wider rollout to start.
Niue's Ministry of Health said it was important for everyone aged 16 and over to get vaccinated to protect the country.
It said with assistance from the New Zealand government, there will be enough doses to fully cover Niue's eligible population.
The ministry said New Zealand would provide any additional help needed for a successful vaccination programme.
Niue has remained completely untouched by the pandemic, with no cases or deaths from Covid-19 reported.
Premier Dalton Tagelagi has said he would be eager to reopen to visitors from New Zealand once the vaccine programme was complete.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that her country would be ready once Niue was ready.