The Falkland Islands Government has received a batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, supplied by the UK government. These 960 doses arrived on 12 August and are being rolled out as part of the ongoing vaccination programme which began in February.
The Falkland Islands Government is pleased to confirm that it is nearing completion of the rollout of its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme. 95% of those aged over 18 in the community has now received two doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine, providing an additional layer of protection against the coronavirus for the vast majority of the Falkland Islands population.
The Falkland Islands Government has urged people in the islands to “take extra care” in undertaking high-risk activities due to the Covid-19 situation in Chile and Uruguay making it “extremely difficult” to arrange the medical evacuation from the Falklands.
The Falkland Islands Government has received confirmation that it will receive a third batch of Covid-19 vaccines and, while the exact timing is yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated that these will arrive in the week beginning 22 March.
The Falkland Islands Government has welcomed the delivery of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday 1 February 2021. Upon arrival the vaccines were carefully offloaded from the South Atlantic Airbridge and were transported by road to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where they were immediately taken to refrigeration units within the hospital.
Falkland Islands Chief Medical Officer Rebecca Edwards has said there is already a “plan of attack” formulated to vaccinate Islanders with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19.
Two more positive Covid-19 test results have been confirmed, it was announced at the Falkland Islands Government’s press conference, held last Wednesday afternoon. The total number of positive test results since April 3, 2020 is now 17.
The first two civilian cases of Covid-19 have been identified in the Falklands, it was confirmed this week, reports Penguin News. The first case was identified through quarantine surveillance swabbing of the individual, who had been in quarantine since their arrival in the Islands on November 5, “and remains so,” according to a Falkland Islands Government press statement.
A period of increased vigilance will begin in the Falkland Islands after one positive case of Covid-19 was confirmed. Falklands' lawmaker MLA Leona Roberts delivered the news at a Tuesday afternoon press conference, joined by Chief Medical Officer Dr Rebecca Edwards and Chief Executive Barry Rowland.
The Falkland Islands Government wishes to congratulate Chief Medical Officer Dr Rebecca Edwards and former UK Representative Sukey Cameron, on each being awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list published this weekend. Both now become Officers of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Falkland Islands Community.