Renbel & Central star performers after first dose of COVID-19 vaccination

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has described as star performers Renbel province at 84.3% and Central Islands province at 56.4 % coverage after their 1^st dose vaccination.

In speech yesterday, Sogavare said vaccination coverage in each province is slowly increasing.

The Prime Minister said the two, star performers are Renbel province at 84.3% and Central Islands province at 56.4 % coverage after their 1^st dose vaccination.

Sogavare reveals that the country’s target population to be fully vaccinated is 414,327 people.

The Prime Minister said this means we need to administer a total of 828,654 doses of vaccines to cover the total eligible population.

He said as of Friday 1^st October 2021, we have only administered a total of 163,896 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

This he said is only 16.5% of the total doses we need to administer for full vaccination coverage.

“Of the 163,896 doses administered, 96,143 people have received their first doses and 33,874 people have completed both doses. So as of Friday 1^st October 202, 130,017 people have taken at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This represents 31.4% of the total eligible population of 414,327 people,” the Prime Minister said.

The coverage for the other provinces is:

1. Honiara and GP – 38.4%
2. Choiseul – 41.4%
3. Western – 39.7%
4. Malaita – 17.7%
5. Makira and Temotu nearly – 10%

“I thank all provincial Premiers, chiefs, and provincial health authorities, for supporting the vaccination drive,” he said.

However, Prime Minister Sogavare said we still have a very long way to go.

“We still have 96,143 people to take their second doses. We still have about 298,000 people not vaccinated yet and must be vaccinated to reach 100 % coverage,” he said.

The Prime Minister said some people that had taken their first dose are delaying their second dose.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the vaccine uptake in Guadalcanal and Honiara remains low.

“This is a serious concern. The most likely place where community transmission could start is from Honiara and Guadalcanal Province so residents in Honiara and Guadalcanal must all vaccinate as soon possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said he is pleased to note that the Ministry of Health vaccination teams will be going to various locations in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province to vaccinate people that could not travel to vaccination centres.

He said vaccination rollout for the other provinces is also stepping up.