As Vanuatu’s vaccination campaign continues to roll out nationwide, the news is good, but perhaps not as good as it could be.

The absolute shambles in official communication relating to an unauthorised flight from Noumea that introduced what may be the first case of COVID-19’s Delta variant is ongoing.

We hope that regulations were followed and all passengers were fully vaccinated, but this has never been communicated. And given that regulations were NOT followed in other regards, the question deserves a clear answer.

Fully vaccinated people are far less likely to transmit the virus.

La 1ere news reported that 8 of the passengers had already contracted COVID-19 in the past, but this has not been conveyed to local media. This also needs clarity. Past COVID infection can sometimes generate false positive test results.

The Daily Post reports this morning that one positive case has been moved to isolation. This means the person is showing symptoms. Updates on their condition would be welcome.

An investigation into this debacle is ongoing, and is being conducted by the Public Service Commission. The Daily Post reports that Vanuatu’s Consul to New Caledonia and the Director of the National Disaster Management Office have both been suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

It beggars belief that these two were the only ones who knew about the flight, and either helped or allowed it to happen. Air Vanuatu management have a great many questions to answer, as do many others.

It’s in the national interest that we see a thorough and complete investigation. This kind of folly can cost lives.

Elsewhere in the annals of miscommunication, Parliamentary Clerk Raymond Manuake told the Daily Post that he’d received no instructions relating to a threat made by DPM Ishmael Kalsakau that unvaccinated MPs would not be allowed in the parliamentary chamber. It’s kind of a shame, because the majority of people would likely support such a measure.

Now, to (mostly) better news. Here’s our vaccination progress in a nutshell:

Nationally, progress has been relatively good. Vaccination rates are climbing steadily, and it looks like key parts of the country are on course to achieve at least partial protection for 90% or more of their population by Christmas.

We have yet to see updates this week from Malampa and Penama province, but are hoping for positive numbers there. All other figures are current as of October 31.

Looking at things in a bit more detail:

The health professionals driving this national effort are to be commended for their dedication and commitment. It’s hard to ask more of those who’ve already given so much, but the plain fact is that if the Delta variant had broken containment last week, we would be in dire straits right now.

The Daily Post quotes health officials, who estimate that we will need 153 more nurses and 83 more support staff if a local outbreak occurs.

We are simply not ready to cope with a local epidemic yet. Vaccination isn’t our only line of defence, but if it fails, everything else is doomed to fail.

Save lives. Get your shot.