10,000 more Covid-19 Vaccines arrive from Australia

Staff Reporters/Press Release

APIA, SAMOA – 01 FEBRUARY 2022: The local Covid-19 vaccination rollout can now continue with the delivery today of an additional 10,000 doses of the Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on an Australian Defence Force flight.

Those who came to the Ministry of Health at Moto’otua today to be vaccinated were told to go back home as the Ministry was waiting for a further supply of the vaccines.

These people were part of the unvaccinated population that the Ministry is pushing for over a 90 percent coverage of those who are fully vaccinated as plans are on the way for the booster vaccinations.

A statement from the Australia’s High Commission said “the Australian Government is honoured to continue our support for the Government of Samoa’s national Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Today we are delivering an additional 10,000 doses of the Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on an Australian Defence Force flight.

“Australia has shared more than 60,000 doses with Samoa. This is in addition to our investment of AUD130 million to the COVAX facility.”

Australia’s High Commissioner, Emily Luck and the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri at the arrival of the vaccines this afternoon.

Samoa’s Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa acknowledged the timely assistance.

“Samoa shares a close partnership with Australia, and we are grateful for these vaccines at this critical time as we feel the impacts at home of this global pandemic. We urge all those who are yet to have their vaccine to get vaccinated.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa, HE Emily Luck encouraged locals to have their vaccinations. “We know that vaccination makes a crucial difference in minimising severe disease and hospitalisations. This is certainly our experience in Australia, where many friends and family members, including within the Samoan-Australian community, continue to be directly affected by this global pandemic.

“Australia is pleased to continue to support Samoa’s response to COVID-19 – support which goes beyond vaccines. We were pleased to recently deliver testing equipment, 50 oxygen concentrators and over 3,500kg of Personal Protective Equipment and consumables to ensure essential supplies are available. The PPE in particular will help keep Samoa’s frontline workers safe – we thank them for their service,” said High Commissioner Emily Luck.

The Australian Defence Force flight that brought the vaccines for Samoa.

“As members of the Pacific family, Samoa and Australia will continue to work together to navigate the challenges that both our countries face from the COVID-19 pandemic,” the joint media statement said.