Weekly Island Round-Up - 29 Mar 2021
Here are 3 things happening in Mauritius this week!
1) Mauritius to vaccinate 700,000 to reach herd immunity before borders can reopen.
Mauritius will need to vaccinate the threshold of 700,000 people (60% of the population) to reach herd immunity before borders can reopen. Providing this target is met, the phased easing of travel restrictions to the island can be expected from summer.
So far around 117,000 people, or around 17% of the population have been vaccinated.
2) Mauritius rolls out Covaxin vaccine amid concerns that it has not been officially approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Mauritius has started using the Indian-made Covaxin vaccine after running out of its 100,000 doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine.
The Covaxin vaccine, produced by India’s Bharat Biotech company, has not been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
But a Mauritian top official defended its use saying India had formally approved its emergency use.
“It is a safe vaccine. Covaxin has demonstrated 81% interim efficacy in preventing Covid-19,” said Dr Zouberr Joomaye, a senior adviser to the Mauritius prime minister.
Opposition Labour MP Shakeel Mohamed raised concerns about the government’s vaccination campaign.
“Why AstraZeneca for the prime minister and Covaxin for others?” he asked.
3) Victims of the Telegram scandal speak out as questions are raised as to why investigations are taking so long, after it’s been revealed that saying pictures being shared without their consent have been circulating on various platforms since 2018
Last week it was revealed that a network of Mauritian men were found to have been swapping intimate pictures of women on instant messaging app, Telegram. Some of the pictures were reported to have nudes, and others of under age girls, all shared without consent.
Victims of this abuse have since spoken out, saying pictures being shared without their consent have been circulating on various platforms since 2018, with little to no action being taken.
SOURCES
https://www.lexpress.mu/keyword/vaccins
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cdl8n2edxept/mauritius
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