SECOND SHIPMENT OF ASTRAZENECA VACCINES TO ARRIVE ON ISLAND TODAY; CALL FOR RESIDENTS TO TAKE THE JAB CONTINUES TO BE MADE
The second shipment of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine was expected to arrive in Antigua and Barbuda today, June 9, through the COVAX facility.
On Thursday, April 8, the Government received 14,000 doses of the vaccine through that facility.
The Minister of Health, Sir Molwyn Joseph, was expected to accept the remaining 16,800 doses on behalf of the Government. Also expected to be at the V.C. Bird International Airport for the occasion is Director of Pharmaceutical Services Alfred Athill.
These additional vaccines come at a time when Health and other officials have been making a national call for more residents to get vaccinated, so the country can reach herd immunity by the end of the summer.
“With herd immunity, it is expected that the country will return to some degree of normalcy, thereby facilitating economic, social and cultural activities with greater ease of travel,” a release from the Ministry of Health says.
To date, over 34,000 persons have been administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with over 22, 000 receiving their second dose.
Meanwhile, residents are being reminded of the four vaccination sites: Villa Polyclinic, Glanvilles Polyclinic, Perry Bay Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre, and the Precision Centre in Paynters.
The centres are open daily, Mondays through Fridays, from 9a.m. to 5p.m., and pre-registration for vaccination continues.
Persons who have received the first dose are also advised to secure their vaccination cards as these must be presented for the second dose, the health ministry is reminding.
