Yaro villagers on Kia Island have been commended for being the first village in Macuata Province to be fully vaccinated.

Assistant Roko Tui Macuata Epeli Tabuarua  said they had reached out to all the 105 villages in Macuata Province raising awareness on COVID-19 and vaccination campaign.

“About 80 per cent villagers have received their first dose of the vaccine and 40 per cent have already been fully vaccinated,”Mr Tabuarua said.

“We’re updating the vaccination profile to be sent to headquarters to tabulate all the data for an analysis.

“We have also observed that those living on maritime islands and inner land are more willing to be vaccinated rather those living on the coastal areas and near the highway.

“The reaction from those who are reluctant is that it has something to do with 666 even though we already highlighted the vaccine is for the sickness and not about their belief,” he said.

Mr Tabuarua said some villages like Nakalou and Naduri had low turnout because majority opted not to be vaccinated during the first round of vaccination campaign.

However, some were slowly coming forward to take their first jab and will receive their second dose by the end of October.

Mr Tabuarua is advising villagers to come forward and get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus, protect their loved ones with underlying conditions and children and to return to normalcy.

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