Mauritius launched its national vaccination campaign against Covid-19 on January 27. 

To mark the occasion, approximately 100 frontliners were vaccinated against the virus at the Victoria Hospital that day.  

The vaccination is intended to protect the Mauritius population by limiting its spread, decreasing its severity and thus reducing its mortality and morbidity rates. 

Mauritius has been Covid-safe since 26 November 2020. 

How to get vaccinated against Covid-19

Anyone wanting to be vaccinated must have their ID card with them, sign a consent form and be prepared to wait 30 minutes after the vaccination for observation. They will be given a vaccination card to produce when they return for the second dose after 21 to 28 days. The second vaccination is mandatory. Only then will the client be deemed to be fully protected against Covid-19. 

Side-effects of the Covid-19 vaccine

Common side–effects post-vaccination against Covid-19 include swelling, fever, headaches and fatigue.  

Who should get the vaccine

Those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are encouraged to get the vaccination. In addition, all those who may be directly exposed to the virus should be vaccinated. That includes frontliners, airport personnel, hotel and transport staff.  

Next steps

A list of locations where vaccinations will be available will be released with the aim of having at least 60% of the population vaccinated.  

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Kailesh Jagutpal, said in a press statement that steps had been taken to ensure that the country received a second batch of vaccines. 

The High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, K. Nandini Singla, praised the Government of Mauritius for rolling out the vaccination programme effectively. She said this will go a long way towards facilitating the reopening of borders and relaunching the tourism industry as well as other crucial sectors of the Mauritian economy. 

Training of health workers

A five-day training programme for 300 health workers was launched by the Mauritius government in early January 2021. The training is to ensure the safe and efficient administration of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

The national deployment and vaccination plan for Mauritius has been prepared in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Laurent Musango, WHO representative in Mauritius, advises citizens to continue implementing existing measures that show good results for prevention and control of the virus. These include wearing a mask that covers nose and mouth, social distancing, and hand hygiene.  

The vaccine is an additional important measure in curbing the spread of Covid-19. 

Musango said the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has issued policy recommendations on how best to use the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. These include where the vaccines are administered, and the resources and trained healthcare personnel required to immediately manage any side–effects, including anaphylaxis, which could occur in approximately one case per 100,000 doses administered.