The British High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, H.E. Dr, Brian Jones yesterday made a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare and apparently spoke highly of the Prime Minister’s decision to be the first to be vaccinated in the Solomon Islands.
In separate news today, Thursday, a report in the UK’s Daily Mail by journalist Connor Boyd said, and I quote.
The success of the Covid jabs were highlighted again tonight as officials unveiled fresh data confirming they reduce deaths in the elderly by 85 per cent.
Public Health England's vaccine chief Dr Mary Ramsay told tonight's Downing Street conference that 'every day we vaccinate more people, we prevent more deaths'.
She unveiled a raft of new data showing the real-world impact of a single dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's jabs on the UK's crisis after it emerged 25million Brits have had at least one dose.
Among the promising findings were an 85 percent reduction in deaths in the over-80s and an 80 percent fall in hospitalizations in the same age group. The analysis also found a 60 percent reduction in catching Covid after one dose for over-70s.
Dr. Ramsay added the risk of getting infected is cut by a third if you live with someone who has been vaccinated.
She said the jabs' impact improves across the board when a patient has been fully vaccinated with both doses. The latest data confirms PHE's initial findings last month.
But Dr Ramsay urged Britons not to get complacent, adding: 'Please don't alter your behaviour when you have the vaccine. Don't take unnecessary risks.'
End of quote.
On another matter that I have raised recently, the UK’s Independent newspaper reported, and again I quote.
Two months from today, the UK government says, international leisure travel may be possible once more – 19 weeks after it was made illegal during the current lockdown.
Simultaneously, foreign governments have been setting out their plans for admitting visitors according to vaccination status, and several cruise lines have also said they will need proof of vaccination before allowing passengers to travel with them.
What is a vaccine passport?
The term is slightly misleading – it’s not a passport, and can include more than vaccination details. It is more properly a “Covid health certificate” that includes proof that a person has been vaccinated, or the results of tests for people who have yet to get a vaccine, or information about a person having had Covid-19 and recovered.
Some travelers are more equal than others, because vaccination, testing or recovery means that they have a lower risk of transmitting Covid-19, but they need a document that proves it.
A Covid health certificate should provide a simple yet secure system that can help travelers navigate through a tangle of restrictions as smoothly as possible while protecting privacy.
Any such document is likely to include the name and date of birth of the traveler, the date of vaccinations and the type and batch used, or details about a recent test or recovery.
End of quote.
Clearly, I believe there are not international moves for some kind of a ‘vaccine passport, a ‘green pass’ (as in Israel) or a valid Covid health document (now in Thailand) to get air travel started again.
The UK is working with other countries that have started similar programs, to lead global efforts to adopt a clear international framework with standards that provide consistency for passengers and the industry alike.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
