Cook Islands youths aged between 12 and 15 have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. in the hope of opening up to New Zealand.
With 96 per cent of adults double-dosed, they’re desperate for tourists to help boost their struggling economy.
Young teenagers rolled up to Rarotonga Hospital from the early hours for the vaccine.
Most of their parents have already been vaccinated and now, more than 700 youth are having their turn.
“I wanted to be vaccinated because I want to come to NZ and to be safe,” one girl said.
Air New Zealand is the only international airline flying to the Cook Islands. From February, the national carrier will not be allowing unvaccinated adults to travel.
The move has encouraged the few adults who have yet to get the jab to come forward.
“It's important we vaccinate as many of our population as we can because at some point in time, we need to learn how to live with the virus,” Secretary of Health Bob Williams said.
The Cook Islands has added its own layer of protection: when the border reopens, all incoming visitors must be fully vaccinated.
The move has been welcomed by a struggling tourism industry keen to open up as soon as possible.
“If we're only allowing vaccinated into the country, we would really like to see a flow of tourists,” the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council’s Liana Scott said.
There’s also been a call for flights to bring tourists out of Christchurch.
“In 2018 and '19 we had regular flights during high season because there was demand there. We as an industry still feel there is a demand there,” she said.
While there is a government wage subsidy, some businesses say they won’t survive after November and there are fears there will be an exodus of even more workers.
Rarotongan Hotel’s Tata Crocombe said it’s been “a crisis of confidence”.
“There's about 4000 people who work in the private sector, 1000 of those left in the last border reopening," Crocombe said.
“We’re expecting at least that number - probably double that number - to leave shortly.”
"I suppose until we know the borders are going to open, if they don't then hoping that the government will look at other ways of helping us out so we can survive this,” Island Car and Bike Hire’s Kristina Lewis added.
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