Paediatric COVID-19 vaccine doses for Solomon Islands

Australia stands with Solomon Islands in its response to COVID-19.

At Solomon Islands' request, Australia will deliver up to 200,000 paediatric COVID-19 vaccine doses, under Australia's pledge to support the Solomon Islands Government to administer COVID-19 vaccines to protect its citizens.

These doses will kick start the vaccination campaign for Solomon Islands' children 5-11 years of age and directly support Solomon Islands' return-to-school plan. Safe access to schools, and protecting children from serious illness, is important for every family.

Australia and Solomon Islands are working together to ensure delivery and roll out these doses as soon as possible.

Australia has already shared more than 510,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses with Solomon Islands, including 10,000 AstraZeneca doses that arrived last week.

Australia is helping Solomon Islands deliver vaccines in accordance with its national vaccination plan. An Australian epidemiologist is providing technical advice in the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and logistical support to the National Medical Store to help manage and distribute vaccines and consumables. We have delivered over 40 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies to Solomon Islands since the outbreak of COVID-19 on 19 January 2022.

Australia continues to invest in the health and education of Solomon Islands' children. Australia and Solomon Islands are committed to working together to respond to the shared challenges of COVID-19.

Quote attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia is standing with Solomon Islands to ensure children can be vaccinated against COVID-19, protecting them and their communities from serious illness and minimising disruption to learning caused by the pandemic.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Dr. Culwick Togamana:

“This is not the first time Solomon Islands has benefited tremendously from Australia's support, engagement and working partnership in the health sector. In fact, if not for Australia's significant support the impact of COVID-19 on our health systems and people would have been far worse”.

“Though the COVID-19 situation has improved, the reopening of the borders will soon present risks of other variants entering our communities and posing health risks to our children. Thus, the announcement is timely and rolling out these paediatric COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years old will be an important undertaking to ensure our children are also protected against COVID-19”.

Quote attributable to Acting Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Hon. Fredrick Kologeto:

“These vaccines, together with the Pfizer vaccine provided by Australia for 12- to 17-year-olds, will help our students to stay protected against illness from COVID-19, while continuing their learning. This announcement comes just in time, as we are now reopening our schools, while working closely with our health counterparts to ensure minimal disruption to students' learning as much as possible while we roll out the vaccines as our main focus”.