BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
ONLY 6.4 per cent of the targeted population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil in a talk-back show.
McNeil said the vaccination status of the country as of Friday 17 September 2021 recorded 26,710.
“Practically this gives us about 6.4 percent of eligible population,” she said.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his COVID-19 update yesterday said the targeted population is 417,327 people.
He said a total of 120,515 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as of Friday 17th September 2021.
“Collectively this means that 93,805 people in Solomon Islands has had at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, representing around 22percent of the total target population,” Sogavare said.
He stated these include numbers of people that have received their first doses in all the 10 provinces of the country now that the final 3 provinces – Makira, Rennell and Bellona and Temotu have rolled out their COVID-19 vaccination programs.
“I thank all provincial premiers, your executive, and all members of your provincial assemblies for leading the vaccination rollout in your provinces.
“Your leadership will bring confidence to your people to follow your example and protect the people in our provinces.
“I also thank all church and community leaders in our provinces for supporting the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programs by receiving your vaccination injections.
“Your participation will generate confidence in members of your congregations and communities to take their injections of COVID-19 vaccines.
“I also thank the Ministry of health and provincial health teams and all those that supported and made the vaccination rollout in all our provinces possible.”
