Vanuatu's government is planning to begin the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations early next month.
The country last night received a shipment of 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX facility.
Vanuatu's Ministry of Health says the doses were sent from Italy and came via Brisbane.
The vaccines from UNICEF arrive in Port Vila. Photo: UNICEF
The arrival in Port Vila on Wednesday of 24,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine marks the seventh country for vaccines to arrive in the Pacific region through the COVAX Facility in the global partnership's effort to deliver at least two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021.
The Prime Minister Bob Loughman said while Vanuatu is free of the virus it cannot be complacent.
"Vanuatu has been fortunate to have been Covid-19-free for a long time thanks to the measures the Government had the foresight to implement. In that time, we have worked hard to put in place a national plan for rollout of the vaccine - an important tool to fight the pandemic.
"We are appreciative of a mechanism like the COVAX Facility that enabled Vanuatu to receive our first batch of Covid-19 vaccines to protect our frontliners. With no COVID-19 cases in the country, unlike our unfortunate Pacific neighbours, it is the opportune time for us to roll out the vaccination programme in a smooth and peaceful way to protect ourselves, our families, communities and future."
Frontline workers first
"This pandemic continues to devastate children and their communities around the world," said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett.
"We will continue to work with the Government of Vanuatu and partners to support vaccination efforts and other essential public health measures needed to keep communities protected."
The vaccines are received by the Vanuatu government Photo: UNICEF
Vanuatu's Ministry of Health, in its first phase of vaccine rollout, is targeting health workers and other frontline staff in line with global recommendations. This will include frontline healthcare workers, border control staff, and public transport drivers who are responding to Covid-19 quarantine and management of operations. Other priority groups in the first phase is those 55 years and above, and people living with existing health conditions. The ministry says preparations are well underway for a national launch and planned roll out of the vaccine from early June.
For several months, COVAX partners have been supporting governments and partners in readiness efforts, in preparation for this moment. They have been especially active in working with countries benefitting from the Advance Market Commitment (AMC), an innovative financial mechanism to help secure global and equitable access for Covid-19 vaccines. This includes assisting with the development of national deployment of vaccination plans, support for cold chain infrastructure, as well as stockpiling of half a billion syringes and safety boxes for their disposal, masks, gloves and other equipment to ensure that there is enough equipment for health workers to start vaccinating priority groups as soon as possible.
Vaccines are now arriving in batches to supported countries following necessary preparatory work being completed to ensure immediate administration of vaccines to priority groups identified by national governments in their vaccine deployment plans.