Tonga Launches First-Ever Nurse Vaccinator Training Pathway
MINISTRY OF HEALTH, TONGA- A major milestone in Tonga’s healthcare sector was marked this week with the launch of the Kingdom’s first-ever Nurse Vaccinator Pathway, as 28 registered nurses gathered at the House of Tonga Conference Centre in Nukuʻalofa to begin the inaugural training programme.
The nurses, representing communities throughout Tonga, including ʻEua, Haʻapai, and Vavaʻu, were carefully selected to ensure equitable participation and strengthen immunisation services across the Kingdom.
The first cohort is undertaking the Vaccinator Foundation Course, developed through a collaborative partnership between the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), the Tonga Ministry of Health, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Health through the Polynesian Health Corridors Programme. The course is designed to establish a structured and sustainable vaccinator training pathway for registered nurses in Tonga while strengthening the country’s immunisation workforce.
The initiative is the result of four years of collaboration between the Immunisation Advisory Centre, the Tonga Ministry of Health’s Nursing and Public Health Divisions, the Queen Sālote School of Nursing at Tonga National University, and the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board. It also builds on the achievements of UNICEF’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation in the Pacific.
Throughout the programme, participants will receive specialised training on vaccine safety, best practice immunisation techniques, and effective communication with patients and communities. The course aims to equip nurses with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to engage in informed talanoa about immunisation while addressing questions and concerns surrounding vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The next phase of the programme is scheduled for September and will focus on Training of Trainers, creating a local network of qualified trainers and supervisors. This will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Nurse Vaccinator Pathway and strengthen Tonga’s capacity to deliver high-quality immunisation services for years to come.
The launch of the programme marks another important step in Tonga’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its health workforce and improving access to safe and effective vaccination services for communities across the Kingdom.
