BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Government’s push for herd immunity in the Federation against the COVID-19 Virus will begin today (Feb. 22) with the launch of the National COVID-19 Rollout.
In a national address, Health Minister Akilah Byron-Nisbett outlined the plans for the rollout and who would be receiving the first dose of the vaccine today from 1:00 p.m. at the Newtown Health Center.
Among those expected to be receiving the vaccine are members of Cabinet and the immediate frontline workers.
“Health care workers, those who work in high to very high risk such as specialists, internists, doctors and nurses on the COVID-19 ward, [the] Operating Theater, Intensive Care Unit, Accident and Emergency, COVID-19 Testers, Health Center Nurses, managers and assistants as well as and emergency services personnel,” the Minister disclosed.
The Minister added that older adults between the ages of 60-79 years with chronic diseases and two or more core morbidities, border protection staff along the corridor of containment, which includes Port Health, Immigration, Customs, ground transportation including taxi drivers, hotel workers at front desks, security and lobby are also in line to receive the first set of doses.
Minister Byron-Nisbett reminded that as per normal, doses are to be reserved in the event of an emergency, where an outbreak or response mitigation requires that those doses be available.
In her explanation of the vaccine plan, the Minister said: “The vaccine will be administered to persons 18-80 years of age. Persons over 80 years of age will be required to be evaluated by their physician prior to receiving the vaccine...Administration of the vaccine will be based on an appointment system. Persons who are interested in being vaccinated may call the health hotline 311 or visit the nearest Health Center.”
The Government received 2,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine from Dominica, which were recently donated by India.
Upon receiving their first dose of the vaccine, the recipients will be given a vaccine card after which they will be asked to return in 10 weeks’ time for the second shot.
Three Health Centers will be used for the initial rollout of the vaccine on St. Kitts - Newtown, Sandy Point, and Tabernacle - while on Nevis, Gingerland and Combermere Health Centers will be used.
According to the Minister, following the first rollout, all other centers would be utilised around the Federation - 11 on St. Kitts and six on Nevis.
The Federation is set to receive 21,600 doses of the vaccine from the COVAX facility and a further shipment from the Government of India, all within the coming days.
