A total of 73,780 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says.
The Prime Minister said the total doses include both Sinopharm and AstraZeneca 1st and 2nd doses.
He said over the past five weeks, from July 17 to August 20, 2021, a total of 38,118 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, compared to 35,662 doses in the 16 weeks between the launch on March 23 to July 17 this year.
Sogavare said this represents an average of 7,623 vaccination doses administered per week, compared to an average of 2,220 doses administered per week, in the 16 weeks between March 23 to July 17, 2021.
“Let me thank all of you, members of the public for turning out in numbers to get your vaccination doses. Please let us keep driving our vaccination efforts together to ensure as many as possible are vaccinated as soon as possible. That is the surest way to protect our children that cannot be vaccinated,” he said.
The Prime Minister said at least 18,217 people have received their 2nd dose of vaccine.
He said they are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“They are now safe from falling severely ill, or from hospitalization or even death from COVID-19 in the event of a community transmission,” he said.
The Prime Minister said these 18,217 individuals, representing only 4.4 percent of the total eligible population of 414,327 people, will slow down community transmission and protect children below 18 years of age.
“We need to increase this percentage to above 80 % to be able to protect those that cannot be vaccinated,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said a further 37,346 (9.0%) people have received their first doses and are expected to get their second doses.
“Please ensure that you return for your second dose on the time written on your cards or 7 – 14 days before or after the date on your cards,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said 8.8 percent of the target population in Honiara and Guadalcanal province have been fully vaccinated.
For Choiseul province 10.1% and for Western province 4.1 percent.
“Nationally 13.4% of the eligible population have received either one or 2 doses of COVID vaccine. We will continue to provide updates on the progress each week,” he said.
The COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Honiara, Western, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Central Provinces are continuing.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the vaccination launch also kicked off in Isabel Province today.
The roll out in Renbel province will start on August 30.
–OPMC PRESS
