600 people vaccinated in first 3 days

First three days of COVID-19, vaccination roll out in Honiara saw national leaders coming forward to receive their first jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

On day one, Honourable Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare opened the vaccination roll out by receiving his first COVID-19 jab, followed by Minister of Health and some of the Ministers of the crown, the Attorney-General, permanent secretaries and Miss Solomon.

Day 2 of vaccination started off with the vaccination of His Excellency Governor General Sir David Vunagi and the Speaker of the National Parliament Patterson Oti. Day 3 the leader of the opposition group, Honourable Mathew Wale with some of the opposition members receiving their first round of vaccines.

These leaders were amongst over 600 people that included COVID-19 operation frontline workers, persons 55 years and above and with underlying health conditions who have come forward to receive their initial COVID-19 vaccine jabs in the first three days.

Health Permanent Secretary Mrs Pauline McNeil, acknowledged the leaders, COVID-19 operation frontline workers, the elderlies 55 years and above and with underlying health

Conditions for making the effort to come forward and receive their first COVID-19 shot.

“The ministry is grateful towards our leaders for coming out and receiving their COVID-19 jabs, your willingness to come forward will greatly build confidence around the vaccines”.

 “I also thank all our frontline workers both health and non-health including those 55 years and above and with underlying health conditions for also coming out and receiving their first COVID-19 jabs. This is important to assist health efforts to swiftly protect our most vulnerable people first before moving to vaccinate our remaining population”, said Mrs McNeil.

Vaccination in the first three days did not record any serious side effects, no anaphylaxis, severe allergic reaction to the vaccine.

The Ministry received reports of pain at injection site, headache, fever, join pains which are all expected adverse events following immunization and all subsided within one or two days.

Vaccination in Honiara will continue in the coming weeks until all 7000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines allocated for Honiara in the initial batch received is administered. Vaccination will continue again on Monday next week.