THE Pfizer vaccine will arrive in the country on Tuesday next week 16th November.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced in his nationwide address that it will be the third COVID vaccine to be introduced in Solomon Islands.
He said since the start of the COVID-19 vaccination roll out program in May this year, we were only able to vaccinate persons 18 years and above with AstraZeneca and Sinopharm Vaccines.
However, the Prime Minister said the Pfizer vaccine has been approved by WHO for emergency use for all persons 12 years and above.
“Due to limited supply, it will be administered only to children between 12 and 18 years of age and to pregnant mothers,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.
The Prime Minister said roll out will commence in Honiara and slowly expand to the provinces as our provincial workforce are still trained for the Pfizer rollout.
Prime Minister Sogavare thanked the Government and people of the United States of America and COVAX for their support to make Pfizer vaccines available to Solomon Islands.
“The vaccines will be administered from the schools and clinics which will be much easier and more efficient. All children between 12 and 18 years of age will need consent from their parents or guardians to receive their Pfizer vaccination,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Health and the Education Ministry are developing the Pfizer vaccination rollout plan in schools commencing in Honiara.
“I also thank UNICEF for supporting the preparatory work with the installation of 5 ultra-cold chain equipment at the National Medical Store with a 100 KVa generator as back up,” he said.
UNICEF is also supporting the training of cold chain managers for the equipment and accessories and supplied.
SOURCE: OPMC PRESS RELEASE
