Current vaccine roll out
From 21 June 2021, COVID-19 vaccination was opened to all adults 18 years old and over with a continued focus on priority groups. These includes people most vulnerable to severe disease, the elderly 55 years and over and those with underlying health conditions and likely most at risk of exposure, and healthcare workers and other frontline workers. Vaccination roll-out is currently ongoing in all six provinces of the country. Booster shots through four vaccines, namely Moderna, Astra Zeca, Sinopharm and the single-shot Johnson and Johnson (J&J) approved by the government, is also carried out for administration to priority groups.
The country is witnessing the rapid vaccination rollout- out after its first community transmission of omicron. A total of 239,344 doses have been administrated nationwide and 80% of all adults have received at least one doses and 72% are fully vaccinated. These five provinces throughout Vanuatu, namely, Sanma, Shefa, Torba, Malampa and Penama have reached 74-79% targets of all adults that are vaccinated. While Tafea Province is right behind with 46% of adults fully vaccinated.
The Government of Vanuatu is working hard to make sure that there will be access to safe vaccines across the country, and encourages a coordinated approach of vaccination strategies for deployment of the vaccines in all provinces. Through its facilitation role, Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) supports COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan developed by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Cluster, focusing on minimising the impact of covid-19 on health systems, social development and economic activity. And more importantly supporting the government in raising awareness through social media platforms for a clear communication on the development of the vaccines and health system in order build public and business trust.