The latest information on the Solomon Islands government’s plans to vaccinate the entire adult population was published in an article in today’s Solomon Star newspaper.
Such a mammoth and appreciative effort of the government I feel is worthy of being shared and I quote from the particular newspaper story.
Quote.
On Friday, 19 March, the first 24,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine arrived in the capital Honiara sourced through the Global Covax facility.
The country had been approved for enough doses to vaccinate 20 percent of its population of under 700,000 people.
"The country needs more than 800 thousand doses of the vaccine for all adults in the country," according to Yogesh Choudhri, a senior advisor to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health.
"China is already sending 20,000 doses and we have also returned to the government of India for a bi-lateral donation for the same vaccine, Astra Zeneca that we are getting. Also DFAT and MFAT have been very upfront and have offered us support," he said.
Mr. Choudhri said the balance of vaccines, of around 50 percent, will be paid for by Solomon Islands.
Frontline workers would be the first to get the jab.
Mr. Choudhri said they aimed to start vaccinations on Wednesday next week.
"Our priority population has been front line workers, so we are starting to immunise in Honiara, where there is a high population, and then because of the ongoing situation in the Western borders," he said.
Solomons Western Border is shared with Papua New Guinea which is experiencing a massive surge in Covid-19 cases.
End of quote.
Source: Solomon Star News.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
