More than 13,000 Samoans have been fully vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine according to Ministry of Health data.  

The Health Ministry also revealed that from the 13,807 vaccinated: 7,680 are male and 6,127 are female which accounts to 11.3 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated as of 15 July, 2021.

However, a total of 54,380 people have received their first dose of the vaccine with 30,364 males and 24,016 females which represent 44.6 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated.

Members of the public who are eligible to be vaccinated are advised to visit nearest vaccination sites such as: Ministry of Health Credentialing Building; EPI Main Office; Matagialalua Health Clinic; Samoa Tourism Authority (Fale Samoa).

Those who will not be vaccinated include women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people who are bedridden, youth less than 18 years of age and those over 85 years old (optional).

The list also prohibits those with a high fever (above or equal to 38 degrees); weak immune systems, including those who have been on steroids for a long time; those receiving active cancer treatment; people with bleeding disorders, and a known history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines including skin rash, swelling of the throat and eyes and breathing difficulties.

Samoa started its vaccination rollout in April after receiving 24,000 doses through the World Health Organisation-organised COVAX Facility.

Samoa is still COVID-19-free, however the Ministry of Health remains on alert and upholding precautionary measures for the safety and wellbeing of its people. 

Samoa also remains at a COVID-19 alert status of Level 1 (Yellow). The State of Emergency orders continue to encourage social and physical distancing as well as basic hygiene and wearing facial masks in public places.

The Disaster Advisory Committee (D.A.C.) has reminded the public that gathering at the airport is strictly prohibited under the COVID-19 State of Emergency (SOE) orders.

COVAX is a worldwide initiative designed to ensure that lesser developed countries can gain access to the vaccine with the Australian government also recently contributing an additional AU$50 million to the Facility in a bid to boost equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide including Samoa.