A report in the Solomon Star newspaper this morning, Friday, said
The first batch of the 20,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine will arrive at 2 pm today at the Honiara International Airport and likely be received by the Minister for Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
After formalities at the airport, the vaccine will be transported to a medical store for proper storage.
The MHMS is planning to officially launch the Covid-19 vaccine programme on Wednesday 24th March 2021 when the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is likely to be the first Solomon Islander to take the first Covid-19 dose after the launch.
Prime Minister Sogavare in a statement said he is ready and be will be honoured to be given the opportunity to take the first Covid-19 dose.
He said the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr. Culwick Togamana will also be amongst the first to receive the Astra-Zeneca vaccine as soon as it rolls out in the country.
They will be followed by the front-line officers.
The covid-19 vaccine Astra-Zeneca was approved and certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and it is safe according to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
Solomon Islands has been offered 108,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine by the Covax Facility.
The MHMS has said a number of training programmes for the health workers and those who will administer the vaccines have been undertaken over the past weeks and will continue this week.
Source: Solomon Star News.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
