The New Zealand High Commission together with key Government partners were thrilled to witness the safe arrival of 28,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived at the Henderson International Airport last Friday.
The doses and logistics associated with them are entirely funded by Aotearoa New Zealand via a donation to COVAX, and have been handed over to Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
This was made possible following an announcement in April by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, in response to a global challenge on supply constraints, that New Zealand would share it’s 1.6 million doses of AstraZeneca allocated through COVAX to eligible countries, of which six Pacific nations were first to benefit. Additional allocations will be announced as and when COVAX publishes new allocation rounds.
Receiving the vaccines batch at the airport were the Minister of Health Hon Dr Culwick Togamana, his Permanent Secretary Mrs. Pauline McNeil, New Zealand High Commissioner Georgina Roberts, Chief of UNICEF Solomon Islands Field Office Dr Zelalem Taffesse, and other health officials.
“Dose-sharing through COVAX is one way in which Aotearoa New Zealand will continue to support access to COVID-19 vaccines, and its pleasing that Solomon Islands is one of the first countries to receive some of these shared doses that we have made available. We’ll keep working with government and partners to support our friends, whanau and wantoks – the community that we live amongst - here in Solomon Islands,” said High Commissioner Georgina Roberts.
Vaccinations offer our communities the best protection against the health impacts of COVID-19. COVID-19 has affected us all. We will all benefit from a vaccinated world.
Protect yourself and your community; get vaccinated!
Source: Press Release, New Zealand High Commission, Honiara