With the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreadily rapidly across the globe, vaccination has proven to be an effective shield against the virus.
In prioritising COVID-19 vaccination, The University of the South Pacific Vanuatu Campus is providing necessary support to its staff to ensure they are vaccinated.
In Vanuatu, vaccination is voluntary due to its COVID-19 free status. However, the Campus is going an extra mile to provide shuttle services, twice weekly, for staff members to travel to the Vanuatu National Convention Centre, Port Vila to get vaccinated.
The Ministry of Health of Vanuatu is currently administering the AstraZeneca and Sinopharmvaccines. It received its first COVID-19 vaccines in June this year.
“The intention is to make the USP Campus one of the safest in the country,” said USP Vanuatu Campus Director, Dr Andrew Mackenzie.
Dr Mackenzie was one of the first few staff who got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month, setting an example for his staff to get vaccinated.
“As a higher education institution, we have a responsibility to make decisions based on science and facts, and the facts tell us that the sooner our communities are vaccinated, the sooner we will be safe from a COVID-19 outbreak”.
More than half of the staff at the USP Vanuatu Campus have had their first shot of the vaccination, and the University is encouraging all its staff to get vaccinated.
Dr Mackenzie said the Campus had also organised information sessions with the Ministry of Health to provide opportunities for staff to ask questions about the vaccines. The sessions were quite popular, with the majority of the Campus staff attending to have their questions about the COVID-19 vaccines answered.
The USP Vanuatu Student Association has also arranged similar presentations for students.
Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Pāunga is encouraging all USP students and staff to get fully vaccinated and help the University provides a safe campus environment.
Students and staff at the Vanuatu Campus can access information about the COVID-19 vaccines roll-out plans for Vanuatu here https://covid19.gov.vu/index.php/vaccination/information
