©DR
The marquee of the presidency welcomed 464 people this Saturday, August 6, who came to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Despite the declining attendance, the staff of the health department responds to “enable the population to be protected”.
The marquee of the presidency was not overcrowded this Saturday, August 6. With travel restrictions still in effect in the United States, vaccinodromes are not yet on the eve of closure. They were in great demand at the start of the holidays: “800, 700, 900 people was three weeks ago”, says Daniel Ponia, responsible for vaccination against Covid. “Last week we were around 455 people a day”, this Saturday 464 people came to be vaccinated at the presidency. Figures that decrease at the same time as those of the epidemic. “People come to be vaccinated because they are aware that they have to protect themselves, believes Daniel Ponia, and protect those around them”. Mr. Vaccination, as the President of the Country had nicknamed him when giving him this function, wants to believe in the sense of responsibility of the population. But he also reports “a few antivax” who come to be vaccinated in order to be able to travel. “We receive them and we know that at least they are protected”.
The health directorate indicates that the booster vaccine against Covid-19 – 2nd 3rd and 4th dose – is recommended for any adult who received their last dose more than six months ago, and more particularly for immunocompromised people, moreover 60 years old or with a risk factor for a severe form of the disease. Pediatric vaccines are still available, for children 5 to 11 years old. The presidential vaccinodrome will be open again in two weeks, on Saturday August 20. In the meantime, it’s at the Mathilde Frebault Institute in mama’o, at the Papara dispensary, at the annex town hall of Toahotu, at the dispensaries in Papeete, Faaa or Arue we can get vaccinated.
Precautions against the possibility of Monkey pox
On August 3, the Council of Ministers authorized the marketing of vaccines against monkeypox, which is present in New Caledonia, the United States and mainland France, but not yet in French Polynesia. “It’s a precautionary measure” explains Daniel Ponia, “we don’t want to worry the population, but at least we will be ready if the disease arrives”. The country is waiting to receive doses of the IMVANEX vaccine in order to be able to offer it to those most at risk.