Samoa’s Ministry of Health confirmed that 1,554 people received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the COVID-19 virus on Monday.
This brings the total number of people vaccinated to 29,518.
The Ministry said 15,671 men and 12,772 women have received their first dose of the vaccine.
The mass rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine began in late April.
The ministry’s guidelines state that people eligible for vaccination include those who are 18 years and older and people who are most at-risk of complications arising from COVID-19 infections.
They include people living with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory illnesses, H.I.V., cancer, kidney diseases, tuberculosis, and rheumatic heart disease.
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).
Samoa remains COVID-19 free to this day.
The National Emergency Operation Centre continues to urge people to get their immunisation.
Photo file source : World Health Organisation