‘Crucial Two Months Ahead for the North’

Acting Divisional Medical Officer Northern, Dr Tiko Saumalua, says 67 per cent of the eligible population in Vanua Levu are fully vaccinated.

He adds that October and November would be critical for the Northern Division because more people would receive their second dose and therefore increase the vaccination coverage.

“We are sitting on low numbers now because people mainly in the rural and maritime areas had initially delayed their first jab due to their fear and misinformed beliefs from social media and anti-vaxxers,” Dr Saumalua said.

“Provincial councils and medical teams continue to create community awareness on the importance of receiving both jabs.”

Target

The target to reach the 80 per cent second jab vaccination coverage by November 11 and this is entirely dependent on residents themselves.

“We want to reach out and vaccinate people from all provinces in time for the reopening of inter-island borders next month,” he said.

The province of Bua has the lowest vaccination coverage of the other provinces in terms of second jab numbers and this is something they are working to improve in the coming weeks.

Dr Saumalua added the Northern Division had so far administered 91 per cent of its population of the first dose.

Village headman on awareness

Dr Saumalua believes village headmen can play a contributing role in advocating on the need to receive both doses of the life saving COVID-19 vaccine.

“Various village settings have different belief systems and the way different village headmen perceive the whole vaccination drive has an impact on their village as well,” he said.

He commended the effort of the village headmen, who had received full vaccination coverage in their respective areas.