Hundreds of Samoans yesterday swarmed vaccination sites around the country to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before the end of a six hour window before the country went back into lockdown.
Many were turned away later after the AstraZeneca vaccine supplies ran out.
An estimated 12,000 eligible Samoans have not had their second dose and the sites were opened up yesterday to try and get them fully vaccinated in the wake of 27 positive cases confirmed.
Government had tried in vain during two national lockdowns last December to get these people vaccinated before the vaccine supplies expired and were forced to send the vaccines to be used in other countries.
Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa will address the country at a 10am on whether the nationwide lockdown that is due to end at 6pm this evening, will be extended.
The latest positive was a male passenger off the Brisbane, Australia flight last week who had been in isolation at the special medical facility at Faleolo as part of a group of close contacts, and tested positive yesterday morning.
He has been transferred to the special isolation wards at the main Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital,
Meanwhile, during the six hour window of the opening of shops, supermarkets, chemists, petrol stations, banks and money transfer outlets there was little attention to social distancing as workers and security staff found themselves overwhelmed by the numbers trying to replenish supplies.
Ferry services between the two main islands are still banned except for special charter sailings to take petrol and essential food supplies to the big island of Savai’i but no passengers.
Photo: TV1 Samoa
