Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the country’s target population to be fully vaccinated is 414,327 people.
The Prime Minister said this means we need to administer a total of 828,654 doses of vaccines to cover the total eligible population.
Prime Minister Sogavare highlighted during his nationwide address, Monday this week.
He said as of Friday 01 October 2021, Solomon Islands have only administered a total of 163,896 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
This he said is only 16.5 percent of the total doses we need to administer for full vaccination coverage.
“Of the 163,896 doses administered, 96,143 people have received their first doses and 33,874 people have completed both doses.
So as of Friday 1st October 202, 130,017 people have taken at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This represents 31.4 percent of the total eligible population of 414,327 people,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said vaccination coverage in each province is slowly increasing.
The Prime Minister said the two, star performers are Renbel province at 84.3 percent and Central Islands province at 56.4 percent coverage after their first dose vaccination.
The coverage for the other provinces is:
1. Honiara and GP – 38.4 percent
2. Choiseul – 41.4 percent
3. Western – 39.7 percent
4. Malaita – 17.7 percent
5. Makira and Temotu nearly – 10 percent
“I thank all provincial Premiers, chiefs, and provincial health authorities, for supporting the vaccination drive,” he said.
However, Prime Minister Sogavare said we still have a very long way to go.
“We still have 96,143 people to take their second doses. We still have about 298,000 people not vaccinated yet and must be vaccinated to reach 100 % coverage,” he said.
The Prime Minister said some people that had taken their first dose are delaying their second dose.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the vaccine uptake in Guadalcanal and Honiara remains low.
“This is a serious concern. The most likely place where community transmission could start is from Honiara and Guadalcanal Province so residents in Honiara and Guadalcanal must all vaccinate as soon possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said he is pleased to note that the Ministry of Health vaccination teams will be going to various locations in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province to vaccinate people that could not travel to vaccination centres.
He said vaccination rollout for the other provinces is also stepping up.
SOURCE: SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE/PACNEWS
