It was a last minute rush for members of the public who flooded vaccination sites on Wednesday to update their COVID-19 card with most of them returning for the second dose of the vaccine. 

By 8.30am on Wednesday there was already a long line of vehicles heading to the Matagialalua vaccination site in town with many more people standing shoulder to shoulder, blatantly ignoring the two meters social distancing rule.

At the EPI building in Moto'otua vaccination site the line was longer. Some of the people standing in the line admitted that they were careless on their part in ensuring that their vaccination cards were updated following inoculation.

Others blamed their busy schedule for missing out on their second doses and now fear catching the virus which has broken out in the community. 

The Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) has been urging the public, prior to the outbreak of community cases to get fully vaccinated. 

According to the COVID-19 statistic summary from the Ministry, there is a huge gap between those with the first dose and second dose aged 18 years and over, as well as those in the 12 to 17 years age bracket for the Pfizer vaccine. 

The MOH statistics highlighted a 11 per cent gap or 11,128 people who had their first dose (98.9 per cent) but are yet to get their second shot to join the 89.7 per cent who are already fully vaccinated. 

From the 12 to 17 years old only 93 per cent (25,935) got the first dose and only 77.8 per cent (21,686) are fully vaccinated. 

Health officials are rolling out the paediatric vaccine in Savai'i and specific sites across the islands. The district hospitals are also administering vaccines for people in the districts.  

As of Wednesday the community cases surged over the last 24 hours with the M.O.H. recording 220 new cases giving rise to a cumulative total to 467 nationwide. 

The island of Savai'i has also doubled its total number of cases from the previous day of 5 to 13 on Wednesday. The smaller islands of Manono and Apolima remain covid free for now.