The Ministry of Health of Vanuatu continues working closely with partners to access the COVID-19 vaccine and prepare systems to safely receive and distribute. Due to limited global supply, Vanuatu will be receiving COVID-19 vaccines in batches, with the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines planned to arrive soon.
Vanuatu has been allocated an initial batch of 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the COVAX Facility. Over the course of 2021, the Government expects to receive enough vaccines to vaccinate the initial 20 per cent of the population as per the first phase of its rollout plan. Prioritised groups for the first batch of vaccines that will be rolled out on Efate and its offshore islands for priority groups that includes; health workers, frontline workers, elderly or older people years 55 and over and people with existing medical conditions. These people are prioritized because they are either at a higher of risk of catching COVID-19 and or of at most risk of becoming seriously ill or dying if they get the disease.
With the progress of the roll out plan in place, Vanuatu Ministry of Health has registered with the COVAX facility and once the Parliamentary Session is held this month and given approval for the indemnity agreement, Vanuatu will receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines soon after to start the roll out campaign.
The Ministry of Health continues to encourage the public to get reliable information only from the Ministry of Health and WHO on the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals and communities are asked to take the time to check information before sharing. Globally, as countries roll out COVID-19 vaccines, WHO continues to keep a close eye on vaccine safety.