THE Choiseul Province vaccination program will be launched on Wednesday this week.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced in his nationwide address today.
The Prime Minister said all preparations to rollout the COVID-19 vaccination in Choiseul province had been completed.
He said vaccination for all eligible people of 18 years and above in all border communities that live in the Emergency zone will commence immediately after the launch.
“To all people in Choiseul province, it is the government’s plan to vaccinate every person in Choiseul that is 18 years and older. However, due to the limited supply of vaccines in this first roll out, people living in the emergency zone have been prioritized due to their proximity to Bougainville,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the rest of Choiseul and the rest of the Western province are high priority for the next roll out of Vaccines.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccination roll out in the Western province has commenced last week.
A total of 201 people had been vaccinated in Gizo to date.
Prime Minister Sogavare in his address today thanked the Western Provincial Government and people of western province for the tremendous support towards the launch and the roll out of COVID-19 vaccinations.
“I thank and commend Premier Honorable David Gina of Western province who remained true to his words and became the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Western province,” he said.
The Prime Minister also commended the members of the Western provincial assembly and public servants, including heads of various provincial government COVID-19 committees, ministries and agencies involved in COVID-19 operations for stepping up to be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the vaccination teams have been deployed to Noro, Munda, and the Shortland Islands today.
He said vaccinations in those locations should commence tomorrow, Tuesday 7th April 2021.
Prime Minister Sogavare said given the logistical challenge of delivering the COVID-19 vaccine at the shortest possible time, a vessel had been hired to facilitate the transportation of personnel and vaccines to the 27 communities in the Shortland Islands.
“I thank all health workers and the RSIPF in the Western Province for ensuring effective vaccination in our border communities in Shortland Islands, Gizo, Noro, and Munda,” he said.
GCU Press