Inoculation is not only for priority groups
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - HEALTH officials are moving quickly to inoculate residents in the Federation with the doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine, which were from two tranches provided to the CARICOM region by the Government of India.
Speaking at yesterday’s (Mar. 3) NEOC media brief, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws confirmed that 2,085 people have so far been inoculated, which represents approximately 6.3 percent of the population.
Health Minister Akilah Byron-Nisbett recently told SKNVibes News that the Government would have already gone through phase one of the vaccine roll-out, which primarily consisted of frontline workers and those in high risk categories.
Now, with the Government receiving 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccine from India on Monday (Mar. 1), she revealed that they have moved to open the roll-out to any person who is interested in taking a jab.
CMO Laws also echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that since the receiving the doses from India, the Government has moved away from the priority group initiative.
“So, we are no longer adhering to the priority groups as we explained last week. So, irrespective of the priority group that you find yourself in, once you are ready, once you are empowered with the information and you would have made an informed decision, all you need to do is go to the nearest health center to access the vaccine,” explained the CMO.
Minister Byron-Nisbett is urging persons who are interested to either walk into their health centers and make an appointment or call the 311 hotline to also make an appointment.
The Government could, within the next several weeks, receive its 21,600 doses under the COVAX facility agreement, which would supplement the 22,000 doses that it received.
This is all in the Government’s push to ensure that it reaches the 70 percent threshold for herd immunity.
Health officials have reiterated that the vaccines are not mandatory; however, they are urging the general public to get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, in addressing a concern that people who received their first jab might not return for their second one and become complacent, Dr. Laws noted that the Government would not be instituting fines or penalties against them.
However, they may get a call or home visit from health officials to remind them of their second dose.
