The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 began Wednesday, January 20 in New Caledonia, a rare territory on the planet where the virus does not circulate, giving priority to staff in contact with travelers arriving in the archipelago, said the local authorities.
“This strategy is adapted to the epidemiological context, that is to say that there is no circulation of the virus within the Caledonian population.
We therefore favor people who are in contact with returning travelers
,
”
explained Michel Belec, medical inspector at the DASS (health and social affairs department).
To read also: Sébastien Lecornu: "The Republic is not weak in New Caledonia"
Only 44 cases of Covid-19 have so far been identified in New Caledonia, including no local and no fatal.
While the air service has been drastically limited since last March, anyone arriving in New Caledonia is systematically placed in a fortnight in requisitioned hotels.
As a first step, the personnel of the airlines, the airport, the autonomous port or those of the mining industry in contact with foreign mineral carriers will be vaccinated.
This population has been estimated at 2,500 people.
"Travelers for compelling reasons or obliged to make round trips between New Caledonia and the outside"
may also be vaccinated after filling out a form.
New Caledonia currently has 17,550 doses of Pfizer / Biotech vaccine, delivered on January 8 by plane by the State.
The available stock will allow about 8,500 people to be vaccinated and no date has yet been communicated for future deliveries.
"To set an example,"
the eleven members of the executive and several heads of institutions were the first to be vaccinated on Wednesday.
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Then, residents and staff of retirement homes (3,000 people), nursing staff, people at risk, over 50s and employees in essential sectors will be vaccinated, then the rest of the population.
"In a few months, the objective is to have collective immunity to perhaps consider reopening our borders, but that supposes a vaccination of 60 to 65% of the population
(270,000 inhabitants)
"
, declared Thierry Santa, president of the government.
