BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation has received the promised doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine from Dominica, which arrived in the country last week, according to Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris.
In a national address on Saturday (Feb. 13), Dr. Harris disclosed that the Federation received 2,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine from Dominica, which is expected to inoculate 1,000 frontline workers.
Those doses, SKNVibes News understands, arrived in the Federation on Thursday (Feb. 11) when a Regional Security System (RSS) flight landed at the RLB International Airport after taking 5,000 doses to Antigua and Barbuda before taking another 5,000 to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dr. Harris disclosed that his Team Unity Government also received confirmation that the 21,600 doses procured by St. Kitts and Nevis under the COVAX arrangement is expected in the Federation before the end of this month.
Additionally, like SKNVibes has been reporting, the Government will be receiving doses of the Oxford - AstraZeneca Vaccine as well from the Government of India this month.
“Additionally, the Republic of China Taiwan has pledged US$600,000 to procure extra vaccines. Further assistance in the form of vaccine donations is also expected from the Government of India and other allies,” noted Dr. Harris.
The PM announced that the assistance would allow the Government to enhance its abilities to roll out its mass vaccination drive on the islands to inoculate the 70 percent target.
In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister disclosed that “our health professionals have worked to establish a vaccination plan to immunize not only our frontline and essential workers but every citizen and resident in due course”.
He however stopped short of outlining the plan and when the drive will begin, especially with the donation from Dominican.
It is expected that the 2,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccines, which is said to be 76%-90% effective and could be stored at a refrigerator temperature, will first go to the frontline workers.
With many speculating over the safety of the vaccine, Dr. Harris urged citizens and residents to take their health seriously and to ensure that they understand the important role vaccines play in preserving health and wellness.
