Villagers of Tuanai who fail to support Samoa’s mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign, will face hefty fines from the Village Council at the upcoming October meeting.
High Chief Faleao Opeta of Tuanai told Samoa Global News that he was in possession of a list from the Ministry of Health with the names of those who had not been vaccinated prior to the two-day lockdown.
All citizens of Samoa had to stay indoors while vaccination teams visited door to door to administer first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Situated in the Upolu district of Sagaga 2, the Sui o le Nuu (SN) or Village Representative of the village of Tuanai, Faleao Opeta, has taken a stance to ensure their village does not lag behind in supporting the national initiative.
Faleao Opeta walked the village to inform the 20+ families on the list to take advantage of the mass vaccination programme, or face a fine at next week’s Aso Gafua (monthly meeting).
“I have forewarned everyone on the list, so if they cannot show their vaccination certificates, they will face a fine at the next meeting of Village Council,” he said.
Faleao, however, also confirmed that there was an overwhelming support for the two day programme and added that he would be very surprised if anyone failed to adhere to the Village Council’s call.
Samoa’s vaccination programme launched just over five months ago in April 2021 and aims to have 99% of its eligible population fully vaccinated by 30th November 2021.
Prior to the two-day lockdown there were over 100k vaccine doses due to expire on the 12th of November while over 20k doses will expire on the 30th November 2021.
Close to 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca was administered during Samoa’s two-day nation-wide lockdown, taking Samoa’s first dose total to 94% and second dose total to 47%. The vaccination programme continues next week at fixed stations as well as all District Hospitals around Samoa.
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