Samoa’s 12-to-18 year children will soon be able to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, thanks to the donation of Pfizer vaccines from New Zealand the Government has confirmed. 

The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said they recognised, acknowledged and thanked all the partners who provided Samoa with COVID-19 vaccines.   

“The number for the shots needed to cover the population that needs to be vaccinated is 170,000,” she said in a press conference this week. 

“We have then received the full amount there from various sources and we also understand that the age group between 12 and 18 they need the Pfizer vaccination.

“And we understand that in October New Zealand will be able to provide the shots for that population component of Samoa.  

“We are very thankful to all our partners who have worked, New Zealand, Japan, the United States of America and also through the collaborative work managed by our United Nations agencies.  

“All their work has enabled us to receive the full component of vaccines needed by Samoa.”

Fiame said that with the roll out of the door to door programme by our Health Ministry that the Government hopes that it “will be able to meet our targets in the very near future, and also especially with the Pfizer vaccination being available for our younger section.”

More than 91,000 people in Samoa have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine as of 26 August according to the Health Ministry figures.

The latest data released by the Ministry of Health on Friday has revealed that 91,478 people have received the first dose which accounts to 75 per cent of the eligible population. Of this total, 48,181 were male while 43,297 were female.

But 40,942 Samoans have been fully vaccinated which represents 33.6 per cent of the eligible population with 22,105 male and 18,837 female.

The Health Ministry is aiming to vaccinate 99 per cent of the eligible population by the end of August. 

Some of the fixed sites for vaccinations include: Ministry of Health Credential Building, E.P.I. Main Office, Matagialalua Health Clinic, and the Samoa Tourism Authority Fale on Beach Road.

The Ministry also advised members of the public to contact the number: 8006440 for more details.   

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

The mass rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the nation’s villages began in late April. 

While Samoa remains COVID-19 free and its State of Emergency orders have relaxed, the National Emergency Operation Centre and the Ministry of Health continue to urge people to get their immunisation and noting that neighbouring islands in the region continue to battle local outbreaks of the virus.