Africa-Press – Mauritius. As from 23 September 2021, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will kickstart its national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for a third /booster Sinopharm dose. All those who have had a second dose of Sinopharm, since more than four months, are eligible for the third dose.
The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, made this announcement, this evening, at a press briefing of the National Communication Committee on COVID-19, in Port Louis.
He underlined that the Ministry has made the necessary preparations in terms of staff and consent form. The vaccination programme will not be carried out on the basis of appointment or alphabetical order, he informed.
As for those who have been administered with AstraZeneca Covishield and Covaxin vaccines, the Ministry is working with the Vaccination Committee and the High Level Committee on COVID-19 to decide which vaccine will be administered as the booster dose, he stated.
The Health Minister also announced that some 76,000 doses of Pfizer under the COVAX facility will be received shortly and these will be administered to teenagers. He highlighted that concerned staff have received the necessary training adding that the vaccination programme will be held in schools.
All those who have been detected COVID-19 positive and suffer from comorbidities and necessitate specific treatments are being admitted at the New ENT hospital, informed the Minister.
He urged elderly persons to get vaccinated so that they do not suffer from serious complications if they test positive to the coronavirus and recalled that the Ministry will get them vaccinated at their residence if they have mobility issues.
The Minister also stressed on the need to continue to abide by hygienic and sanitary measures to halt the propagation of the pandemic. Dr Jagutpal provided the following information regarding the COVID-19 situation in Mauritius:
A total of 1,675,609 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered since 26 January 2021.
A total of 846,158 first vaccine doses have been administered, representing 67% of the population, and the country counts 787,794 fully vaccinated persons, amounting to more than 62% of the population.
As for Rodrigues, a total of 23,209 Rodriguans have received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose, representing 53% of the population, and 18,446 Rodriguans have been fully vaccinated, representing 42 % of the population.
Over the last 24 hours, some 68 positive COVID-19 cases have been detected. There are currently 51 Mauritians who have been in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient and are admitted in quarantine centres.
As for the Medical Superintendent of ENT hospital, Dr Sok Appadu, he underlined that the protocol as regards the admittance of COVID-19 patients at the New ENT hospital has changed. Only those who are suffering from severe complications and symptoms of are being admitted, he informed.
There are currently some 36 COVID-19 patients suffering from mild to severe symptoms, among whom three have been placed on ventilators and the remaining in the High Dependency Unit, he added.
Dr Appadu informed that for this month, some 147 patients have received treatment and been discharged. He also pointed out that most patients being admitted are elders, adding that most of them have not been vaccinated and are suffering from severe complications.
For his part, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) , Mr Krishna Jhugroo, highlighted that the Mauritius Police Force has a crucial role to play in helping to halt the propagation of COVID-19 in the community.
We are working relentlessly to ensure that the population abides by the sanitary measures and protocols and we are sensitising all citizens on the matter, he said.
He deplored that there still many persons who do not abide by the COVID-19 restrictions and regulations, such as the improper and non-wearing of face masks and participating in social gatherings exceeding the prescribed limit.
Since March 2021, some 14,000 persons have been issued contraventions for the non-wearing of face masks, and since 05 august 2021, some 1,700 persons have been issued Fixed Penalty Notices.
He urged everyone to collaborate with the authorities and to act responsibly and cautioned them that the Mauritius Police Force will take the necessary actions against those who do not abide by the law.
He announced that the authorities are coming with new strategies to ensure compliance, including targeted operations. On that note, he urged all citizens to provide information to the authorities, via the Information Room, to help them tackle those non-compliant persons. He also indicated that 94,4% of the Mauritius Police Force staff are vaccinated.
