BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
THE first tranche of Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines will be targeted to the country’s front-liners.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said initial application to cover the first 0.25 percent of population had been submitted to and had been received by GAVI.
In his nation-wide address, Monday, he said his government is committed to vaccine coverage of 50 percent of the population through the GAVI facility with the remaining 50 percent of the population to be secured through bilateral arrangements with development partners.
“Fellow citizens the Oversight Committee will be meeting with the COVAX National Coordinating Committee and the COVAX Technical Working Group to agree a timeline for the presentation of our COVID-19 Vaccine roll-out strategy to Cabinet for its consideration,” Sogavare said.
“I am happy to inform the public that our initial application to cover the first 0.25 percent of our population had been submitted to and had been received by GAVI,” he added.
“This first tranche of vaccines will be targeted to our front-liners.
“My government has committed to vaccine coverage of 50% of our population through the GAVI facility with the remaining 50% of the population to be secured through bilateral arrangements with our development partners.
“In this regard I applaud the commitments of Australia that has announced the amount of 14 million Australian dollars to assist Solomon Islands procures and distribute vaccines, and other countries including New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China that have already committed to support the government’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out program.
“I also thank the UN Agencies in particular the UNCEF and WHO as well as well as other international and regional agencies including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for their ongoing support to my government.”
