- Two active cases of COVID-19 were detected in a quarantine facility on 24 October 2021. These cases tested PCR positive at day 2 after arriving to Vanuatu from New Caledonia on 22 October 2021. Both have been confirmed to be active cases and one has developed mild symptoms of COVID-19. Both will be transferred to the COVID-19 isolation ward at Vila Central Hospital.It is not yet known if this is the delta variant; samples have been sent to Australia for laboratory testing and results are expected next week.
- No other active cases of COVID-19 have been detected. Contact tracing indicates there is no evidence of breaches of quarantine procedures. However, 20 frontline workers were quarantined as a precautionary measure and those who have completed their day-5 test and are negative are released from quarantine.
- So far, 118,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been received in Vanuatu, comprising 48,000 AstraZeneca doses through the COVAX Facility, 20,000 Sinopharm doses received from the Chinese Government and 50,000 AstraZeneca doses received from the Australian Government.
- Vaccine roll-out has commenced in five provinces and will commence in Torba in November 2021. Vaccines are prioritised to health workers, front line workers (e.g. border workers, quarantine facility staff, public transport drivers), the elderly (55 and over), and people 35 and over with existing medical conditions.
- Up until 24 October 2021, there were 104,998 COVID-19 doses administered in Vanuatu. A total of 72,276 people received at least one dose of AstraZeneca or Sinopharm and 32,736 people have received two doses of either Sinopharm or AstraZeneca and are considered fully vaccinated.
- There have been 369 adverse events following COVID-19 immunization notified in Vanuatu. The vast majority have been mild to moderate side-effects reported via the dial-in line. 15 have been classified as serious adverse events and have required investigation. Of these, 15 have required causality assessments with 11 confirmed to be coincidental or immunization anxiety-related and not related to the COVID-19 vaccine product or immunization error with 2 indeterminate (due to conflicting trends). Results from 1 event are pending.
- For one patient who became ill after being administered with a COVID-19 vaccine, the National Vaccine Safety Expert Advisory Group have completed their assessment and have concluded that there is a causal association with immunization. This is therefore classified as a vaccine-product related reaction. This is the first case of a serious AEFI confirmed to be related to a COVID-19 vaccine product administered in Vanuatu.
- As of 25 October 2021, Efate and Offshore Islands are considered to be at Alert Level 1: Medium due to cases at the border. There is no indication of any cases in the community or any community transmission. The rest of Vanuatu remains at Alert Level 0: Low risk.
- Everyone is urged to refer to official information sources and avoid rumours. Updates will be communicated via the COVID-19 website: www.covid19.gov.vu
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