COVID-19 Vaccine Rush: Caribbean Nations Roll-Out Vaccination Programmes

Latin America and the Caribbean have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19. The region has only 8% of the world’s population, but it accounts for 28% of the world’s coronavirus deaths. And as a developing region, it’s had relatively little access to vaccines. That’s why vaccination is so important. Last week, COVAX announced its vaccine launch for Latin America and the Caribbean. Led by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the Global Vaccine Alliance, or GAVI, the goal of COVAX is to make sure poor and middle-income countries get the COVID-19 vaccine doses they need. While some Caribbean nations ready themselves for vaccine deployment from COVAX and other allies such as India, vaccine roll-out programmes have begun across the region.

Barbados

On February 10, Barbados received India’s gift of 100,000 COVID-19 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines, distributed under their Vaccine Maitri initiative. At the end of January, Mottley wrote to India’s Prime Minister Modi requesting about 200,000 vaccines. The vaccines were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SAT). Now, the island undertakes its largest mass vaccination program in its history, to fight the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.

#BREAKING – Barbados PM Mia Mottley receives her 2nd dose of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine (BGIS) pic.twitter.com/VUlhcQJ47q

— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) February 15, 2021

As of the end of February 16, Barbados announced that 6,665 persons have been vaccinated—at a rate of over 1,000 persons a day. Based on these figures, approximately 2% of the population has been vaccinated in Barbados; vaccinations started last week.

JUST IN – Belizean PM John Briceño confirmed earlier tonight Barbados PM Mia Mottley offered Belize 1,000 AstraZeneca vaccines; Briceño indicated logistics are still being ironed out in terms of getting the vaccines to Belize from Barbados pic.twitter.com/hWNRauhW3f

— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) February 13, 2021

In addition to PM Mia Mottley receiving her second dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine on Feb. 16, members of Barbados’ Parliament inclusive of the Opposition Leader received their COVID-19 vaccinations yesterday.

Trinidad & Tobago

As of February 17, front line health workers employed at Covid-19 treatment facilities will receive the first injections of the vaccine during an immunization exercise at the Couva Hospital and Multi-Training Facility.

T&T’s first covid-19 vaccinations begin tomorrow with Frontline staff! pic.twitter.com/yxOJdYNN1Y

— Kejan Haynes (@KejanHaynes) February 16, 2021

Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago will also be receiving 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines via the COVAX facility by the end of March, according to the Health Ministry.

Source: Loop News Trinidad & Tobago

St. Lucia

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, “Saint Lucia will administer the first COVID-19 vaccines to frontliners on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.”

#BREAKING – St Lucian PM Allen Chastanet receives his COVID-19 vaccination publicly; St Lucia begins its vaccine rollout today pic.twitter.com/BgVHjd7MMA

— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) February 17, 2021

Besides that, the vaccination process will be broadcasted live as the first frontliners receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: Loop News St. Lucia

Dominica

After receiving 70,000 vaccination doses from India, the Commonwealth of Dominica has begun rolling out its doses with President Charles Savarin being the first Dominican to take the vaccine last Friday. The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed in a mass rollout on the island, planned by the Ministry of Health, anticipated to begin on February 22^nd.

#SNAPSHOT: Dominica President Charles Savarin & his wife First Lady Clara Savarin were among the first to receive their COVID-19 vaccination in the nation today (PMO) pic.twitter.com/QgCCTkKKUu

— Kevz Politics (@KevzPolitics) February 12, 2021

Although, Dominica is one of the nations least impacted by the coronavirus, recording zero deaths since the outbreak. Despite the pandemic, the administration has ensured that national development projects continue to progress while also guaranteeing the financial protection of its citizens with $12.7 million invested in COVID-19 relief efforts. In order to maintain those high standards, Dominica is ensuring that its neighbouring islands also receive the vaccine to encourage herd immunity in the region. Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerrit said he, as leader of a country with a population of just 72,000, “did not see the chances of getting such a swift positive response from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi”

Source: PR News Wire