Members of the public now able to receive their booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine at three vaccination sites in Apia, though doses of the vaccine ran out for those who had hoped to get inoculated on Thursday.

The booster shots will be administered at three vaccination sites: the EPI Building at Moto'otua; the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.) fale; and Matagialalua, Eleele Fou opposite the Nelson Memorial Library in town.

There was a crowd at the S.T.A fale on Thursday when the Samoa Observer visited with people waiting in a queue to receive their booster shot. 

However, by 1.30pm nurses stationed at the S.T.A. fale advised members of the public that they've run out of doses and those still waiting should return Friday morning.

Members of the public had also waited in line at Matagialalua only to be advised by the nurses after 2pm to return on Friday morning.

There were also members of the public who lined up to get their first or second (full) dose of the vaccine as well as children between the ages of 12-17 who are the target population for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Statistics on Samoa's COVID-19 vaccine coverage issued by the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) last month showed that 105,257 people were fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine while another 19,326 had received the full dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Government of New Zealand last weekend donated thousands of doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Samoa and Tonga in a major boost to the two countries' national vaccination rollout programmes.

The donation was announced in a statement issued by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.F.A.T.) last Saturday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand is donating an additional 9,300 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Tonga and 10,000 doses to Samoa.

“These donations are part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to global vaccination efforts and are part of our plans to support vaccine rollout in the Pacific," she said.

“With Tonga now in lockdown and COVID-19 detected at the border in Samoa, ensuring populations are boosted will play a key role in mitigating the impacts of an outbreak."

New Zealand's Associate Health Minister Aupito William Sio said that the vaccines will enable frontline workers and vulnerable populations in both countries to access a booster shot as early as possible.

“Both Samoa and Tonga have done an impressive job of vaccinating their people against COVID-19," Aupito said.

According to the N.Z. Government statement, following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunami last month, New Zealand has provided NZ$3 million to Tonga in humanitarian funding.