Vaccination against Covid-19 (illustration).

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Bony / SIPA

This is a rare case: New Caledonia is indeed virtually free from Covid-19.

Only 44 cases have so far been identified, including no premises and no fatalities.

The vaccination campaign started there on Wednesday.

Priority was given to staff in contact with travelers arriving in the archipelago.

"This strategy is adapted to the epidemiological context, that is to say that there is no circulation of the virus within the Caledonian population", explained Michel Belec, medical inspector at the Department of Health and social (DASS).

New Caledonia currently has 17,550 doses of Pfizer / Biotech vaccine, delivered on January 8 by plane by the State.

While the air service has been drastically limited since last March, anyone arriving in New Caledonia is systematically placed in a fortnight in requisitioned hotels.

As a first step, the personnel of the airlines, the airport, the autonomous port or those of the mining industry in contact with foreign mineral carriers will be vaccinated.

This population has been estimated at 2,500 people.

Collective immunity as an objective

"Travelers for compelling reasons or obliged to make round trips between New Caledonia and the outside" may also be vaccinated after filling out a form.

Then, residents and staff of retirement homes (3,000 people), nursing staff, people at risk, over 50s and employees in essential sectors will be vaccinated, then the rest of the population.

"In a few months, the objective is to have collective immunity to perhaps consider reopening our borders, but that supposes a vaccination of 60 to 65% of the population", or 270,000 inhabitants, declared Thierry Santa, president of the government.

"To set an example", the 11 members of the executive and several heads of institutions were the first to be bitten on Wednesday.

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