Samoa plans to return some of over 100,000 unused AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines despite close to 60,000 eligible people still remaining to be fully vaccinated.
Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri said at a National Emergency Operations Committee press conference that the vaccines will expire in November so it’s important to try and send some back for use in other countries.
Leausa said they are mindful that this might give the impression to foreign donor partners that the country is “taking their assistance lightly.”
The latest data from NEOC showed a total of 68,343 or 56 percent of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated.
115,274 people or 94.6 percent of the eligible population have received their first dose.
The portion of the population who are eligible for Covid vaccination is 121,800, leaving
59,983 people who are yet to be fully vaccinated.
Leausa said the latest update showed that more than 6000 people are due for their second dose but have not taken it.
He warned that most COVID-19 related deaths around the world are of people who had not been vaccinated.
Children between 12 and 17 are the next ones to be vaccinated and the New Zealand government has agreed to provide the Pfizer vaccine for their jabs.
Leausa said the Pfizer supply is scheduled to arrive in the country on October 15 and will be rolled out immediately upon arrival.
