Vaccination count exceeds 20,000

By Marc Membrere 18 May 2021, 11:00PM

The number of COVID-19 vaccines dispensed has now exceeded 20,000 as of Tuesday morning.

An online statement issued on the Ministry of Health (M.O.H) Facebook page on Tuesday morning said that 20,553 people in the country have now been vaccinated against the virus. 

Of the 20,553 to be vaccinated, 11,535 are male and 9,018 female.

In April, Samoa had received 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the caretaker Government said frontline workers would be first in line for their vaccinations. 

Samoa then started its COVID-19 mass vaccination programme which was rolled out into communities starting with communities in the Apia Urban Area.

The vaccination programme first reached the Vaimauga No.1 and No. 2. districts before moving onto the Vaimauga No.3 and No.4 Districts after a week.

The nationwide vaccination rollout has now reached Vaimauga No.3 and Vaimauga No.4 districts.

In early May, the Samoa Observer visited vaccination sites such as Magiagi, Tanugamanono, Matautu Tai, and Vini Fou and noted there were few people present at vaccination sites. 

The Government's vaccination programme is currently at the Faleata No.3 and Faleata No.4 Districts; it started on Monday 17 May and will end on Thursday 20 May. 

Recently Australia and UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund) had announced a partnership to finance the purchase of 6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

It was also reported that New Zealand is also joining with Australia and UNICEF to procure further vaccines for the Pacific and provide other pandemic support where needed.



By Marc Membrere 18 May 2021, 11:00PM
Samoa Observer

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