DPM takes lead in Sinopharm vaccine.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Maelanga, MP took the lead to receive the Sinopharm vaccine today in Honiara.
This is as part of the government’s ultimate goal to vaccinate all eligible people, 18 years and above, with COVID-19 vaccines.
In launching the Sinopharm vaccine, Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare stated,
“Today I stand to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to the President of China Xi Jing Ping, the people and government of China for positively responding to our request with the allocation of 50,000 Sinopharm doses for our people.”
The doses of Sinopharm have been safely stored in the National Medical Store prior to the approval granted by WHO for its emergency use and as of today commenced its roll out.
According to the Prime Minister, the Sinopharm roll out will also be in line with the COVID-19 Vaccine National Deployment and Roll- Out Plan that was also used in the roll out of AstraZeneca.
“We will continue to prioritize remaining COVID-19 operations frontline workers and support staff in Honiara and the provinces, including essential workers,” the Prime Minister stated.
Several Solomon Islanders who are planning to return to China for their studies will also be offered the Sinopharm Vaccines.
Further, people above 40 years of age and those with co-existing other diseases will also be included in the roll out following the first group to be covered.
“We will also take into consideration other factors such as operational and logistic issues in roll out of this and other vaccines so as to provide most benefit to our populations,” he said.
Reiterating a statement made in his weekly national address on Monday, the Prime Minister said that limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines calls for strategic use of the available doses.
“As such the 50,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine will be administered to 25,000 people because it requires two doses to be administered at an interval of 4 weeks.”
This means those who receive their first dose of Sinopharm will receive their second dose be in less than 4 weeks, to complete their COVID-19 vaccination.
The Prime Minister also assured the people of the safe and effectiveness of the covid19 vaccines having been approved by WHO for emergency use and certified for roll out by the Medicine and Therapeutic Committee.
The Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) is fully committed in the fight against the COVID-19.
GCU Press