BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
BY Looking at the Delta variant global and regional scene, Solomon Islands will be in huge danger if people are not vaccinated.
This was according to the Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr. Jimmy Rogers when speaking during a radio talkback show on Sunday.
“Delta variant is now affecting more than 122 countries, it spread very rapidly and it is airborne, driving third and fourth wave globally.
“In terms of numbers, 212 million people have been affected and more than 4.4 million lives have been taken and that’s a huge number. We always look far, watching countries that already have it, and now we are just looking next door. It means the risk for SI is greater than before,’’ he said.
He said that the Solomon Islands probably had more than seven thousand people on average been vaccinated a week throughout the country in the last five weeks, and if we continue on that tangent we will actually be able to vaccinate eligible population by June next year 2022.
‘I think the key message is Vaccination. If we step it up, we will be able to vaccinate earlier than that. June 2022 to comply with the Forum leaders’ target that by June 2022 everyone should be vaccinated against the virus.
However, Dr. Rogers said that despite the fact that we do not know when delta variant will hit SI, we shouldn’t look at June as the target, but must step up the vaccination in order to vaccinate the majority of the population in advance of June next year.
“That said, if the delta variant hit the Solomon’s in December, its impact will be worse than Fiji. I must admit it. So I think it is very very important that we must continue to encourage all genders for vaccinations. That’s a key thing that will protect us,’’ said Dr Rogers.
