Australia has shared more than three million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with the Pacific region since this March, new figures show.

As of September 18, Australia has shared 3,242,120 doses of the vaccine with the region with 50,000 to Samoa since March.

Samoa received 10,000 doses on July 9, another 10,000 doses on July 15 and then 30,000 on July 26.

In response to Samoa Observer email queries on Wednesday the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa Emily Luck stated that since March 2021, Australia has shared more than three million COVID-19 vaccine doses with their partners in the Indo-Pacific region, as part of a total commitment to share 20 million doses by mid-2022.

“We are proud to have shared 50,000 doses with Samoa to support its national COVID-19 vaccine roll out – a key part of the Government of Samoa’s strategy to protect all Samoans,” Ms. Luck said in a response to Samoa Observer email queries.

“Australia’s contribution, together with other development partners, has contributed to more than 150,000 vaccine doses administered in Samoa to date.”

According to her, they have also provided funding towards ‘”Tamanu”, an Australian-developed electronic patient record system that will account for vaccines administered.

Earlier this year, Samoa became the first country to use the Tamanu electronic register in its COVID-19 vaccination rollout - a permanent electronic medical record of patient vaccinations.

It allows health workers to track individual patients, providing clinical support and supporting consistent, long-term management of patient conditions. The vaccine information can be stored on both computer and mobile devices.

 “Australia is also providing access to technical advice on vaccine safety and research and funding to improve water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management at district hospitals,” she said.

“Australia will continue to work closely with Samoa and other partners across the region to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines, helping to save lives and support our shared recovery from the pandemic.”