Solomon Islands' Covid-19 vaccination programme will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, in Honiara.
Last weekend, 24-thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, supplied through Covax facility, arrived in the Solomons.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, gave a national update confirming the rollout will launch at the central field hospital which he said was best equipped for mass vaccinations.
He urged all people over eighteen years of age to get vaccinated when the health team comes to their area.
The Prime Minister said during his national address, “Fellow citizens, it is crucial that we commence the covid-19 vaccination rollout in Honiara so that our teams are seasoned by the time they deploy to the western border where support facilities may be a little more limited."
"Do not be afraid to take the Covid-19 vaccination. Every medicine we take has side effects, the Prime Minister assured.
"Some of us may develop mild side effects such as pain or itchiness at the injection site, or a short period of feeling unwell. Such side effects are common in other inject able medicines we take when we are sick."
Vaccination and medical teams are to deploy to the country's west (Western and Choiseul Provinces) as well as to the outer Malaita islands, where communities are considered at higher risk of the virus spreading from neighbouring Papua New Guinea.
Today, the Prime Minister said again, “Don’t be afraid to take the COVID-19 vaccination”, as he reassured the nation’s citizens living along the western border
Prime Minister Sogavareurged citizens living along the western border emergency zone - in Choiseul Province, Western Province, and Malaita Outer Islands to take the injection as part of protecting the country.
He went on to say, “I ask all of you that are above 18 years of age to take the COVID-19 vaccination when the team comes.
“This is the only way we can collectively protect ourselves, protect our families, and protect those less than 18 years of age that cannot take the vaccines yet.”
“It is our individual and collective duty as citizens to protect each other from the COVID-19 virus.”
The Minister of Health Dr. Culwick last weekend highlighted the arrival of the vaccines and said it has marked another important milestone in the efforts of the government to stay one step ahead of the spread of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
He added, “In the coming weeks and months we will greatly bolster our capabilities to enhance our efforts to protect our people against COVID-19 and stay ahead of any potential community transmission.”
He thanked GAVI and the COVAX Facility for the first batch of the vaccines and UNICEF for facilitating the shipment of the vaccine consignment, and both UNICEF and WHO for the ongoing technical advice and guidance.
Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccination Alliance, has emphasized that “COVAX's mission is to help end the acute phase of the pandemic as soon as possible, allowing global equitable access to vaccines against COVID-19.”
In response to what the Minister of Health had said, “We thank the Government of Solomon Islands for their public health leadership, as well as the donors’ commitment made to the COVAX facility for the equitable access to vaccines throughout the world,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Pacific Representative.
The WHO Representative to Solomon Islands, Dr. Sevil Huseynova, highlighted that WHO was very glad to witness the historical moment when the first batch of vaccines arrived last Friday,
“We have been working hard with the government and UNICEF over the past few months to ensure the timely submission of the national vaccine deployment plan as well as all other necessary preparation work that had enabled commitment from GAVI to support Solomon Islands.”
She acknowledged the hard work of the Ministry of Health team in preparing ahead for the arrival of the vaccines.
“From identifying priority groups, developing tracking systems to upskilling of staff for vaccine delivery. WHO will continue to work alongside our colleagues here to ensure we safely deliver the vaccines.”
In a later joint statement by CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO it said, for several months, COVAX partners have been supporting governments and partners in readiness efforts, in preparation for Wednesday’s rollout.
“They have been especially active in working with countries benefitting from the Advance Market Commitment (AMC), an innovative financial mechanism to help secure global and equitable access for COVID-19 vaccines.
“This includes assisting with the development of national vaccination plans, support for cold chain infrastructure, as well as stockpiling of half a billion syringes and safety boxes for their disposal, masks, gloves and other equipment to ensure that there is enough equipment for health workers to start vaccinating priority groups as soon as possible,” the statement said.
Footnote.
It added, the vaccines are now arriving in batches to support countries following necessary preparatory work being completed to ensure immediate administration of vaccines to priority groups identified by national governments in their vaccine deployment plans. Solomon Islands has completed preparatory work in good time and therefore able to receive allotted vaccines from COVAX.
“As vaccines start to roll out around the world, they should complement, and not replace, proven public health measures.
“It is also important to expand access to rapid diagnostics and treatments, such as oxygen and dexamethasone, as advocated for by the ACT Accelerator.”
“Solomon Islands, like other countries, will continue to apply tried-and-tested measures to successfully prevent and control transmission, such as physical distancing, masks, ventilation and hand hygiene, alongside robust programs to test, trace, isolate and treat,” the statement said.
The COVAX mechanism is offering a portfolio of vaccines suitable for a range of settings and populations and is on track to meet its goal of delivering at least two billion doses of vaccine to participating countries around the globe in 2021, including at least 1.3 billion donor-funded doses to the 92 lower-income COVAX Facility participants supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC.
In ensuring the safety and efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccine has undergone rigorous clinical trials and safety assessments in order to ensure it meets the highest level of safety standards, the statement said.
Yours sincerely Sources: Radio New Zealand and Solomon Star News.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
