PM disappointed after many public servants have not turned up to be vaccinated

Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare says he’s extremely disappointed that many public servants working in frontline ministries and agencies have not turned up to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Speaking in a special nationwide radio today to announce the country’s 19^th COVID-19 case Sogavare did not hide his disappointment after poor turn-up in the fist three days of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out which started on Wednesday.

“As Prime Minister of our nation that is trying to ensure we protect not only ourselves from COVID-19 but also protect those around us, especially people under 18 years of age that cannot be vaccinated, and those living with existing diseases, I am extremely disappointed that many public servants working in our frontline ministries and agencies have not turned up to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Let me remind all Public servants in Solomon Islands that when you sign up to be a public servant, you sign up to serve and to protect your people and your country,” he said.

He also expressed his disappointment of the number of people being vaccinated since Wednesday rollout.

“I am disappointed to learn that we have only vaccinated around 600 people in the first 3 days of vaccinations in Honiara.

We will not be able to protect this country from COVID-19 if most of our population that should be vaccinated are not vaccinated.

I am extremely disappointed that the most of our front-liners in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the National Referral Hospital, Honiara City Council Health, and our frontline health personnel from Guadalcanal province who have been identified top priority for vaccination had not turned up for vaccinations,” he said.

He said a directive has been to all frontline personnel from all frontline Ministries and agencies to complete vaccination by Wednesday, 31 March 2021.

A total of 24,000 AstraZeneca doses are currently being administered since the vaccination roll out on Wednesday.