BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
OUTCOME of the COVID-19 vaccine application for 0.25 percent of the country’s population is still unknown.
This was confirmed by Dr Yogesh Choudhri, technical advisor to Ministry of Health Medical Services at the recent radio talkback show.
Choudhri said vaccine application through the COVAX facility has been made and they offered us vaccine for 0.25 percent of the population.
“We made an application its outcome is still to be known nevertheless we are making efforts so we can roll out the immunisation programme for the priority front liners in the event if we able to get 0.25 percent of the vaccine,” he said.
He said Procedures have been put in place trainings would be done next week.
Choudri said the national vaccination policy paper has been prepared by the MHMS and will be presented to the National Coordination Committee and then to Oversight Committee and to the cabinet in time to come. It will provide the background on how we will go about the vaccination.
Pauline McNeil permanent secretary MHMS said at the moment they have put in place a national vaccination plan to do with the COVID-19 vaccination.
“Right now, we have drafted a policy on COVID-19 vaccine and it should be delivered to cabinet and caucus this week to be reviewed and it should be finalized.
We also have preparation in the event we have this vaccine mechanism in place. In terms of Human Resources capacity, we have four newly graduated nurses have been moved to immunization program,” said McNeil.
She said there is still a lot of work needs to be done but with the support of every one and Health ministry’s partner things will work out well.
“The immunization of COVID-19 is not like normal immunization. For COVID-19 immunization we have to advocator for people for people forward to take vaccination on Health facility,” said McNeil.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his latest special address said “On a brighter note, we have submitted our application for the first doses of vaccines to cover the first 0.25% of our population. We have already committed to procure through the COVAX facility adequate vaccines to cover 50% of our population in the first instance.”
