BY INDY MAEALASIA
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) teamed up with schools and stakeholders yesterday to celebrate the 2025 Immunisation Week, doubling down on its commitment to make vaccines available nationwide, particularly among children.
This year’s event was held under the theme “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible” at the HCC Youth Hub Chinatown.
“The ministry continues its commitment to the task of reaching high vaccine coverage for all antigens and ensuring the safety, and the protection of the population against life-threatening, infectious diseases,” MHMS Minister Paul Popora Bosawai said in his keynote speech.
The minister said that given the ongoing measles outbreaks around the world and region, Solomon Islands is at risk.
“These increase the risks of the importation of measles viruses, furthermore, polio continues, to be an ongoing risk due to previous outbreaks and the recent report of polio detection, in our neighbouring country, Papua New Guinea. This makes it even more vital, that we achieve high vaccine coverage, for the protection, of our most vulnerable,” Bosawai warned.
Sharing the same sentiments, WHO Representative in Solomon Islands Dr Howard Sobel shared with the audience the primary importance of vaccines.
“Vaccine gives a little lesson to your body. It teaches your body how to fight off a disease before the real sickness comes.
“They (Vaccine) give your body a preview of a disease so when it actually hits you, your body is able to recognize the disease and successfully get rid of it. Your body is smart. Once it learns to fight disease, it remembers how,” he said.
Sobel urged the audience particularly children to be curious and brave to be informed about vaccination
“Encourage all your family members to get vaccinated, all your community members to get vaccinated. You have a lot of power within you. It’s my message to you that you have the opportunity to really help Solomon Islands become a safe place,” he said.
Sobel urged the audience to be ambitious, making preventable diseases a thing of the past with the use of vaccine.
The event brought together teachers and students from schools in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province, who took part in drawing and speech competitions.
Stakeholders also showcased their work and contributions to immunization efforts across the country