Samoa on Target in Achieving Vaccination Rates

by Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 12 FEBRUARY 2022: Samoa is on target in its Covid-19 vaccination roll out rates and Government is calling on those who have not done so to get their jabs.

In announcing reverting to Level One Alert yesterday, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa told a press briefing the vaccination rates are on target.

She also emphasized that the future opening of borders depends on achieving the vaccination rate to ensure protection for the country.

Current Vaccination Rates stand at:

• 18 + years is at 98.5% first dose and 89% are fully vaccinated.
• 12 – 17 years is at 89% first dose and 73.4% are fully vaccinated.
• Overall 96.8% first dose 86.3% fully vaccinated.

In terms of numbers; 145,077 people have received first doses and 129,200 are fully vaccinated.

A total of 2,012 Booster Injections have been done to date for 1,043 females and 969 males.

The vaccines roll out program for the 5-12 Age Group will begin as soon as the paediatric vaccine supplies arrive.

We are on target to achieve our vaccination rates.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa announcing the relaxed Covid-19 orders down to Alert Level One.

Still No Evidence of Community Transmission

• 139 of our frontline workers that were quarantined were released this week following a total of 7 tests which all returned negative.
• The 48 passengers that never tested positive have been released.
• Positive Cases remains at 31.
• Some have fully recovered and returned negative tests with subsequent release while others are close to making full recovery.
• All remain asymptomatic.
• There is no evidence of community transmission.

“After careful consideration of the current situation with regard to the revised Alert Levels matrix and the progressive achievement of our vaccination rates, Cabinet has decided to move our SOE Orders to Alert Level 1, colour coded Yellow. All operations shall continue as clearly stipulated in the SOE Orders for Alert Level 1,”the Prime Minister announced.

Some of the main conditions that will now apply under Level 1 include:

• Opening of all schools
• Allowing public gatherings
• Extended opening hours for markets, supermarkets, small stores, petrol stations and pharmacies
• Extended opening hours for restaurants
• Opening of bars and night clubs between
• All local travel by sea and land are open
• Free movement of children under 12 years in public places

These changes under Alert Level 1 start on Friday, 11^th February, 2022 at 6pm.