BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE Opposition has warned the DCGA government on its mandate of rolling out the COVID-19 Vaccine in the country.
Contributing on the state of public emergency debates on last week, the Opposition Leader, Hon. Matthew Wale warned that there is still great risk at Solomon Islands border with Bougainville as well as from international freighters coming to the country.
He said how governments around the world responded to pandemic varies, some enforced lockdown, other relied on less restrictive mandates whilst many relay on the current mass vaccination.
“It is urgent for teams to reach out to all provinces and towns and get everyone vaccinated. We will fail short of the herd immunity threshold if we expect people to get vaccinated voluntarily.
“Our preparedness should now take on an aggressive pursuit of vaccination. There shouldn’t be delay of the jab initiative, decide and move on. We are wasting precious time,’’ he warned.
“We must not assume that we will not be infiltrated by COVID. MV Papa Mau is clear evidence of this possibility,’’ he warned.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Culwick Togamana said that so far only 47,921 dose of both COVID-19- vaccines have been administered for the 1st and 2nd since March this year.
Delivering the COVID-19 National Address on behalf of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Monday this week, Health Minister, Dr Togamana said it is worrying as only 12,183 people have been vaccinated, representing only 2.9% of the national targeted population of 414,327 people, meaning only 23,555 received their first dose at this point of time.
In an effort to ensure that all citizens are vaccinated the Government in its sitting on 30 Friday last week have approved and announced the mandatory administration of COVID-19 Vaccines.
According to Health Minister, Dr Togamana, the mandate advices that all working class groups including government officers and employees undertaking front-lines duties and their eligible family members are to be vaccinated.
“The Cabinet has also agreed and set a national vaccination target to achieve 80% 1st dose vaccination coverage nationally by 30th November 2021, and an 80% 2nd dose vaccination coverage nationally by 28 February 2022.
“The cabinet warned that person under the above categories who denied 1st dose of vaccination by 31st August, will not access place of employment, and if not fully vaccinated by 30th November 2021 will be taken as having chosen to self-terminate their employment.
“The Cabinet put 60 days (2 months) for working class groups in provinces where vaccination rollout has not yet commenced to get their first dose and the last date to take their 2nd dose will be 12 weeks from the date of the closing day for the 1st dose period,” He said.
Hon Togamana said as a responsible government, they will not wait for community transmission to occur before making vaccination mandatory.
“We must ensure our total eligible population is vaccinated before COVID-19 has a chance to reach our communities,’’ The Health Minister said.
