How Can We Improve Our Vaccination Rates?
The Solomon Times Online today posed the question and published this article, which I quote
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says that the country cannot stay locked up forever, and has directed the Oversight Committee to look at the possibility of reopening our borders, once certain thresholds are reached.
One of those thresholds is the vaccination rate of the eligible population, the Prime Minister has suggested a vaccination rate of 80% to 100% of the eligible population.
Solomon Islands vaccination rates are some of the lowest in the Pacific region, perhaps just slightly better than that of PNG. To date less than 6% of our eligible population have been fully vaccinated, and close to 12% have received their first jab.
The most recent national census puts the Solomon Islands population at 721,455. However, only 359,690 are eligible for the vaccine - those 18 years old and above.
Based on our current vaccination rates we still need to fully vaccinate 312,144 of the eligible population. If we are to reach the 80-100% vaccination coverage by November we will need to vaccinate close to 5,000 people per day. We are currently doing less than 250 per day. We need to be creative in the way in which we push our vaccination programs. We cannot rely on outreach and awareness; we need to be willing to give incentives.
In Fiji there is a Lottery Sweepstakes called “Win Together” where those that have completed their COVID-19 vaccination are put into a draw to win FJD$51,000 cash. To date, 97% of their eligible population have received their first dose and close to 60% have been fully vaccinated – they are on track to open their borders in November.
Now that most of the provinces have launched their vaccination drive, perhaps it is time to consider additional incentives – and there are plenty of lessons elsewhere to draw from.
End of quote.
Comment
The National Lottery idea, as in Fiji, is proving a popular incentive and the idea taken up in Hong Kong.
In New Zealand providing transport and shuttle bus services to vaccination centres is also under consideration.
In several countries one of cash payments of 100 dollars are incentives to people who take both vaccinations.
Credit coupons for food purchases are other incentives on offer.
Gifts of food, to a certain value, are also proving successful incentives.
In the Solomon Islands one might consider –
Free bags of rice.
Help with school fees.
A National lottery with a free ticket to each person having a double vaccination.
A free domestic holiday package from Solomon Airlines.
Gifts of vegetable seeds and gardening tools.
Transport provided for people to get to/from vaccination centres.
Certificates of Appreciation from the Government to those double vaccinated
A cash voucher for medical treatment to be honoured by the MHMS (To a certain value)
A cash incentive to those having a second vaccine could be a way of improving vaccination rates if financial support could be aided by one or more diplomatic partners and the same for the cash pool for a National Lottery.
Church leaders speaking out above the safety of vaccines and the duty of care the government has to the people in providing vaccines to prevent serious illness and deaths from the incursion of Covid-19, especially the deadly Delta variant.
MP’s touring their constituencies and speaking to the communities about the need and urgency of getting doubly vaccinated.
Injection of Rural Development Funds for community projects much needed (and in communities where the people are all doubly vaccinated).
Solar power lighting to communities doubly vaccinated.
Road improvements accelerated by one or more development partners to communities dependent on road access to schools and markets, but only on proof of double vaccinations.
Promised help, within a short time frame, for a community health clinic, school or shipping service, on proof of double vaccinations.
The above a just a few ideas on incentives that could be of value in seeing an expected increase in vaccination rates, but my personal feeling is incentives that give material or financial aid, in money or kind, could be the best motivators, if only development partners will assist the government in their duty of care.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
