Vanuatu has conducted the largest health operations, with over half (65%) of adults nationwide have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over a quarter (41%) have had two doses and are fully vaccinated. So far nationwide there have been 178,464 doses administered in the country.

This has been possible due to the trust and support of the government, community leaders, and the public, and through the diligence and stamina of front line health workers and support staff. The continued support of UN agencies, bilateral partners, NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector are acknowledged for their valuable technical, financial, and logistics support.

There is still a way to go in order to reach the targets announced by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister (PM), honourable Bob Loughman, of which 90% of adults with a first dose and 70% of adults fully vaccinated by 20 March 2022. In high priority areas, 72% of adults have received at least 1 dose and 43% are fully vaccinated. Port Vila Municipality Area has met the targets of 90% first dose and 70% fully vaccinated for adults while Sanma and Shefa Provinces are very close.

To keep the vaccination roll out going, Vanuatu will be receiving an additional 15,000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines from the government of New Zealand (NZ), through the COVAX Facility. The signed agreement was endorsed by the Ministry of Finance, Johnny Koanapo, and Minister of Health, Silas Bule. The Australian Government will be committing $ 6.5 million for covid-19 vaccine access during the year work plan of 2020-2023 in Vanuatu.

The funds will cover supplying doses, training, and mobilization of additional health workers for the national vaccination rollout and also having expertise in the country in strengthening systems to make sure vaccine safety. The Government of China will also be providing additional 80,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and 80,000 disposal syringes to Vanuatu.

Johnson &Johnson is the third vaccine to be introduced in Vanuatu, after AstraZeneca and Sinopharm. Similar to other vaccines being rolled out, J&J has achieved World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listings and are highly effective in preventing severe diseases, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.

Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) fully acknowledges the support of the Vanuatu Government and assistance from the regional organisations, donors, and NGO’s. For recognizing the importance of immunization as the main key component in the country and supporting investment in the health sector.

The continued government and donor assistance is the best set of resources to help businesses promote COVID-19 vaccination to their employees at the workplaces. And this is very important in utilizing these resources to help spread the message of the importance of vaccination. VFIPA urged businesses to look for accurate and up-to-date information relating to the current situation of the pandemic and to support the vaccination roll out program in the country.