Get Vaccinated For Peace Of Mind

Vaccination against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) has put many anxious Jamaicans at ease and abated their fears of severe illness or death should they contract the virus.

With a high COVID-19 positivity rate of 54 per cent, it is likely that an increased number of persons will become infected, especially if they do not adhere to the infection prevention and control measures the Government has put in place to minimise the spread of the virus.

Fully vaccinated people are afforded an extra layer of protection from the disease, which has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 Jamaicans and over four million people worldwide.

This sense of relief at being fully vaccinated is being felt by Jamaican-born critical care nurse in the United States, Dr. Sandra Lindsay. She was the first person in the Americas to have taken the COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials.

“When I got vaccinated, it was like a burden, a big boulder just rolled off my shoulders and I immediately felt protected,” she says.

Dr. Lindsay, who is Director of the Critical Care Nursing Division at the Long Island Jewish Medical Centre in Queens, New York, shared her experience during a recent virtual press conference hosted by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who had invited her as a special guest.

The critical care nurse says that when she had the opportunity to be vaccinated on December 14, 2020, she did not hesitate, as she was fearful of contracting the virus and becoming critically ill or dying.

“I showed up to the site one hour earlier waiting for the vaccine to arrive because I was so eager to get the vaccine,” she shares.

Having seen first-hand from the front line the devastation the virus has caused in her adopted country over the past 18 months, she is imploring every citizen to play their part in helping Jamaica return to normalcy by getting vaccinated.

“I am appealing to you, fellow Jamaicans, to help the country to get out of this predicament that we find ourselves in.  Inaction is not an option. It is not going to just miraculously go away. We have the power to take back our lives and our livelihoods right here in our arms,” she says.

Dr. Lindsay notes that she got vaccinated, as it is her professional obligation to save lives “and I know beyond wearing our mask, which we should always be wearing, because COVID is still here, beyond meticulous hand hygiene and [physical] distancing, we needed something more powerful and a vaccine is our best defence against this virus”.

“I also did it because of personal fear… .I was fearful  of getting ill, ending up in one of my Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds as a patient or even dying. I was afraid that I would get infected, so much, that I couldn’t be on the front lines with my team. I’d feel terribly guilty.

“I also did it for all of us because I’m not just one person, I am part of a larger community and so I saw it also as my civic obligation to help where I live now, which is the United States, to get out of this predicament that we find ourselves in,” she adds.

Since taking the vaccine, Dr. Lindsay has been an ardent advocate for COVID-19 vaccination and has made it her duty to encourage those who might be hesitant to take the vaccine to enable the return to productive normalcy.

Dr. Lindsay says she is confident Jamaica can beat COVID-19 once more Jamaicans decide to get fully vaccinated.

“I appeal to you, do not listen to the propaganda on social media. I was supposed to turn into a ghost 24 hours post taking the vaccine and I am still here in the flesh. I know we can win this. We have the fastest woman alive; we can run lef’ this COVID-19, but it’s up to us and the power is right here in our arms,” she emphasises.

Guided by science, research and expert knowledge regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, the Government has ramped up its vaccination drive to inoculate and protect as many citizens as possible. More than 500,000 persons have already been vaccinated in a bid to achieve herd immunity.  The ultimate aim is to vaccinate at least 65 per cent of the population.

Prime Minister Holness has repeatedly called for Jamaicans to avail themselves of credible information about COVID-19 vaccination, stressing that getting vaccinated is “in everyone’s best interest”.

“We… appeal to everyone to become vaccinated, especially those of our citizens who are listening to and believing false information about the vaccines. It is important that the country achieve herd immunity,” he says.

He stresses that it is in the achievement of herd immunity that the Government can dispense of the non-clinical measures that have had a devastating impact on the economy.

The Prime Minister has been leading by example, as he, along with all his Cabinet members, has been fully vaccinated. Several ministers have also been vocal in their call to get Jamaicans vaccinated.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, speaking at an event recently, implored Jamaicans to get vaccinated, stressing that it will help to save lives.

“Don’t believe the ‘fool’ stories you hear out there about the vaccine. Get vaccinated. I am fully vaccinated… . We want you to be fully vaccinated because we want you to enjoy a long life. We are in a troublesome situation with… COVID-19… one that has forced us to reintroduce no-movement days. One thing Jamaicans don’t like is to be confined, so if you ‘want free up yuhself’, go get vaccinated,” she says.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, who echoed the appeal while taking his jab, is also of the view that getting vaccinated “is our best chance at full recovery and return to full productive capacity [and] importantly… will help to ensure our children can return to school”.

“When you get your opportunity, you must [get vaccinated] so we can all protect each other from COVID. The vaccine works when as many people as possible take the vaccines… so the more of us take the vaccine, is the better for us so we can go back to having a normal life,” he notes.

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has also been quite vocal in encouraging vaccinations in his latest plea, made at a virtual event on Saturday (August 28).

“The most important decision that every Jamaican must make is the decision to get vaccinated [so that] this pandemic can be put behind us,” he says.

Mr. Chuck stresses that vaccines have proven to be effective, with more than 5.2 billion doses now being administered to almost three billion people worldwide.

“Overwhelming evidence is that the vaccines of all types have been very effective to control the virus to avoid hospitalisation and definitely to avoid death,” he adds.

Jamaicans can make their vaccination appointments online at www.moh.gov.jm

or by calling the Vaccination Call Centre at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683).

Once their appointments are confirmed, persons should visit their vaccination site with their government-issued identification or a letter from a Justice of the Peace. Those due for a second dose will also need to take their vaccination card.

The public is being reminded to remain vigilant in their adherence to infection prevention and control measures, notably, mask wearing, maintaining a physical distance from others, and frequently washing and/or sanitising hands.

On Sunday (August 29) the island recorded 739 new COVID-19 infections and six additional deaths, which occurred between August 27 and 28. Hospitalisations for the virus are now at 723 with 62 persons being critically ill.

In total, Jamaica has recorded 67,402 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started last year; while the death toll has risen to 1,510.