BY JARED KOLI
A good number of Solomon Islands students in tertiary institutions in Fiji have taken their vaccination against covid-19 as the country continues to grapple with the virus.
This is according to an executive member of the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) in Suva, Fiji.
The SISA executive member who wants his name withheld, said a good number of students have taken their first jab for covid-19 vaccination.
He said other Solomon Islands nationals who have taken their first jab during the first vaccination role out at the Vodafone arena have also taken their second jab.
“I am not quite sure of the actual number because details of those that have taken their vaccination were sent directly to the Education Attaché. But what happens now is that vaccination is conducted by mobile team and students just listen out for host Government’s notice.
“Once a mobile team set up close to places where students accommodated then they will go there for vaccination.”
He said some students at Fiji National University (FNU) vaccinate at Samabula Primary School which is closer to where they were residing. Others including some USP students go to a primary school at Brown Street which is also closer to USP Laucala campus.
“Last week the mobile team set up at a hospital at Nasese, close to one of the USP gates so many students go there for vaccination,” the student leader said.
It has been reported that two Solomon Islands students studying at the USP’s Laucala campus have been tested positive for Covid-19. They are currently on home isolation and are asymptomatic, meaning they are infected but never develop any symptoms of the virus.
The Solomon Island Government (SIG) encouraged that Solomon Islands students in Fiji to get Covid-19 vaccine provided by Fiji.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) and Solomon Island Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA) have called on all SIG students in Fiji to actively seek for and be vaccinated for Covid-19.
“It would prevent students from the development of serious COVID-19 infection or fatality.
“We are concerned that a good number of Solomon Islands students in Fiji based institutions are reported to have not taken their vaccination against the covid-19 for reasons that the students could only explain, despite the service being offered free.
“We encourage all students that have not taken the vaccines to do so, in order to be protected from the deadly coronavirus. It is better to act now – do not wait and regret later,” MEHRD and SITESA in a recent advisory, said.
