With only 4.2 per cent of Samoa’s eligible population fully vaccinated, the Secretary-General of the Samoa Red Cross Society, Namulau’ulu Tautala Mauala, is urging people to receive their COVID-19 immunisations. 

As of last week, about 40.5 per cent of the eligible population had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Samoa Red Cross Society, which runs its own vaccination sites, is also holding training workshops for members of the public and volunteers, together with the National Health Services in making sure everyone on the island is vaccinated in a safe environment.

The volunteers will assist health workers in completing the vaccination process and will also be providing first-aid should anyone require it. 

“Our organization has been working nonstop since the national state of emergency was declared by the government two years ago when the pandemic disease first made its presence known to the world," Mrs. Namulau’ulu stated. 

"Since then, we have partnered with various organisations such as Samoa Police Services, Fire and Emergency Services, Ministry of Health, Samoa National Health Service, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Nuanua ole Alofa, Fa’ataua le Ola,  as well as other non-Governmental Organisations in getting ready to combat the spread of the deadly disease if it hits us in the future. ” 

She said that this was a crucial time for the population to receive vaccinations and sought to dispel myths and rumours that might be making people hesitant to receive the vaccination: 

"We are educating our people through our various training programs that vaccines prevent them from getting sick and keep them protected from COVID-19,” the Secretary General said. 

Aside from providing assistance to the Samoa National Health Service in the vaccination process, they are also conducting surveys in villages throughout the country to find out if families have enough water supplies to sustain themselves in the event that the disease reaches the country's shores.

“In this time of crisis, a clean and steady water supply is essential. We are going out to every village here in Upolu and the big island of Savaii to find out which families aren’t accessible to clean water. After the survey we will then give out water tanks to the families in need of clean running water,” said Mrs. Namulau’ulu.