The last day for members of the eligible population to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine is 24, September.

The announcement was revealed by the Health Ministry on Wednesday on its official Facebook page.

“Please ensure you get your first dose as soon as possible,” read the post.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has revealed that despite records showing that 81 per cent of the eligible population received the first dose; more than 20,000 people have not been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Those who are eligible to be vaccinated are advised to seek the nearest hospital or the vaccination teams going around villages.

According to the Health Ministry figures, more than 98,000 people in Samoa have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine as of 14 September.

The latest data released by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday has revealed that 98,284 people have received the first dose which accounts to 80.6 per cent of the eligible population. Of this total, 51,266 were male while 47,018 were female.

However, 47,934 Samoans have been fully vaccinated which represents 39.3 per cent of the eligible population with 26,075 male and 21,859 female.

Another issue faced by the Ministry is a 50,000 gap between those that received their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. 

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri has emphasised that the significance of getting your first dose on the 24 of September is so that by the time you get your second dose the vaccine has not expired by November.

He has also shared that there is a slow progress with people receiving their second dose. 

To date, Lotofaga has the highest percentage out of those who have received the first dose of the vaccine that currently stands at 96.3 per cent. Safata No. 1 remains the only district within the 56 to 60 per cent group. 

The mass rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the nation’s villages began in late April. 

While Samoa remains COVID-19 free and its State of Emergency orders have relaxed, the National Emergency Operation Centre and the Ministry of Health continue to urge people to get their immunisation and noting that neighbouring islands in the region continue to battle local outbreaks of the virus.