The total number of eligible members of the population who have been fully vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is close to 20,000.

Data released by the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) on Thursday afternoon show 19,905 people in the country have now been inoculated with both their first and second doses of the vaccine. 

The 19,905 people who have been fully vaccinated represents 16.3 per cent of Samoa’s eligible population.

Of the 19,905 people who have been fully vaccinated a total of 10,239 are males and 9,666 are females.

There are currently 58,977 people in the country who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which represents 48.4 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated.

Out of the 58,977 people in the country who received their first dose of the vaccine 32,778 are males while 26,199 are females.

Members of the public who are eligible to be vaccinated are advised to visit the nearest vaccination sites at the Ministry of Health Credential Building; EPI Main Office; Matagialalua Health Clinic; and the Samoa Tourism Authority (Fale Samoa).

For those who are receiving their second dose of the vaccine, the M.O.H. has advised to bring their vaccination cards and any form of identification such as passports, birth certificates or driver's license.

Samoa started its vaccination rollout in April after receiving 24,000 doses through the World Health Organisation-organised COVAX Facility.

Samoa is still COVID-19-free, however, the M.O.H. says it remains on alert on the possibility of the virus reaching the nation's shores.

COVAX is a worldwide initiative designed to ensure that lesser developed countries can gain access to the vaccine, with the Australian Government also contributing an additional AU$50 million to the facility, in a bid to boost equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide including Samoa.