No justification for verbally abusing vaccinators working to keep all safe from Covid-19
The SI Ministry of Health says it is saddened by verbal abuse and threats made against a group of vaccinators in Honiara last week while rolling out vaccination.
The Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Health Mrs. Pauline McNeil made this statement during the live broadcast and streaming of the COVID-19 Oversight Committee Radio Talk Back show yesterday at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC).
Mrs. McNeil explained that these vaccinators are fathers and mothers themselves working hard every day to feed their families just like anyone else, and more importantly they are administering an important vaccine, one that will prevent severe illness, hospitalization and deaths from COVID-19, let alone the delta variant threat that is right at our door steps.
Therefore she said her Ministry urged the public with grievances and disagreements with the current vaccine roll out to utilize existing proper channels and relevant legal avenues to express themselves rather than in such disturbing ways”, said Mrs. McNeil.
Mrs. McNeil also went on to highlight that the success of the current vaccine roll out heavily depends on the support from the public and across all sectors of the economy and levels of governance.
“We will not be able to achieve our goal of vaccinating all eligible persons, 18 years and above to reach our potential to protect ourselves against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID if we lack support from the public, civil society groups, churches, communities and across sectors of the economy and governance at national and provincial level.
On that note, the Ministry of Health says it would like to take acknowledge all those who have come forward to receive their vaccination, to all those who continue to advocate for the vaccines and encourage others to also come forward to get their doses.
“To all community and church leaders and elders, civil society groups, private sector firms, donors and development partners, national and provincial government including other line ministries, a sincere thank you indeed to you all for the ongoing cooperation partnership to date in supporting the national roll out of the vaccines.
“Thank you indeed to all our vaccinators, medical and public health workers for continuous commitment and dedication towards the health of our people.
“The virus does not discriminate and select its host, we are all equally at risk of contracting the virus, and should we lose one due to the virus, it’s our loss together as one family and one nation.
“Let us all play our part,” a statement from the Ministry said.
Sources: MHMS Media Release and Solomon Times Online.
Comment.
Mrs. McNeil words in response to the reported abuse and threats made to the vaccinators serves to illustrate the tolerance and acceptance of free speech in the Solomon Islands for in some countries given the national crisis brought about by Covid-19 verbal abuse of others has led to criminal charges.
It should be remembered that the Solomon Islands Government has a duty of care to its citizens to offer protection from Covid by giving out vaccinations that offer, so far, the best possible chance of avoiding coronavirus that is costing lives so many countries.
This week or so the Delta variant of Covid has seen rising numbers of cases in New South Wales, in Victoria and in parts of Queensland, even in Cairns in the far north. Sadly, the Delta variant has occasioned some deaths of those that had not been vaccinated. Parts of Sydney and Victoria are facing lock-downs.
The Delta variant is widespread in Fiji and in parts of PNG.
In Thailand, where the Delta variant has taken hold, there has been some 22,000 fresh Covid cases every day for about a month and not enough vaccines yet available for the community which, nationwide, exceeds 66 million.
The Solomon Islands is one of the very few countries in the world to have no known cases of Covid and I have previously credited this achievement, but will just repeat the fine work undertaken by the MOHMS.
I will end with a message to all those who have, or might choose to again verbally attack the vaccinators doing their best to keep people safe.
This weekend in New Zealand, Professor Nick Wilson from Otago University said, and I quote.
“The Delta variant, originally identified in India, is almost twice as contagious as the original Covid-19 strain that came out of Wuhan, China.”
"Delta has really changed the situation quite substantially,"
"With the very high infectiousness of this Delta variant, we may need to do even more.”
Vaccination is necessary in the Solomon Islands, and all must do their part, as Mrs. McNeil has said.
Sources. Solomon Times Online and Radio New Zealand.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
