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Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.

Jamaica To Get More Vaccines Through COVAX Facility

Jamaica is slated to get another 370,000 doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines through the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. The provision, which is expected to arrive in the next few weeks, is part of more...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, emphasises a point, while making a statement during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (October 26).

376 Primary Schools To Reopen For Face-To-Face Classes

Chairman of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operationalisation Task Force, Professor Gordon Shirley (second left), is in discussion with other members of the task force (from left) Consultant, Office of the Prime Minister, Alok Jain; Brigadier Markland Lloyd of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF); and President and Chief Executive Officer, ICD Group Holdings Limited, Peter Melhado, during a press conference at Jamaica House on October 27.

Task Force Recommends Vaccination, Testing Protocol For Workers

As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8.
The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that administrators are required to obtain a satisfactory institutional health inspection and coronavirus (COVID-19)-compliant approval report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this new academic year.
In addition, administrators should engage parents in consultation to arrive at a consensus on the start date for in-person learning, which should provide adequate time to prepare the students. They should also submit, to the regional office, a copy of the satisfactory health report and a letter signed by the board chairman, indicating the extent of the parent consultation and the proposed start date for face-to-face engagement. The letter is to outline the schedule for in-person learning, including the approach to be used – whole day or rotational. Where the COVID-19 protocols allow, all the students should be accommodated daily. However, where this is not possible, each year group will be given at least two days of in-person learning each week. The education region in consultation with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Division and the Schools’ Operations and Improvement Services Branch, will provide written approval for the commencement of face-to-face instruction. The region will also provide monitoring support as is customary. — As hundreds of primary-level institutions prepare to resume face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is advising school administrators to ensure that all the necessary protocols are in place. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced on Tuesday (October 26), that 376 schools have been selected to offer in-person classes beginning November 8. The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that administrators are required to obtain a satisfactory institutional health inspection and coronavirus (COVID-19)-compliant approval report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for this new academic year. In addition, administrators should engage parents in consultation to arrive at a consensus on the start date for in-person learning, which should provide adequate time to prepare the students. They should also submit, to the regional office, a copy of the satisfactory health report and a letter signed by the board chairman, indicating the extent of the parent consultation and the proposed start date for face-to-face engagement. The letter is to outline the schedule for in-person learning, including the approach to be used – whole day or rotational. Where the COVID-19 protocols allow, all the students should be accommodated daily. However, where this is not possible, each year group will be given at least two days of in-person learning each week. The education region in consultation with the Ministry’s Planning and Development Division and the Schools’ Operations and Improvement Services Branch, will provide written approval for the commencement of face-to-face instruction. The region will also provide monitoring support as is customary.

Schools Advised To Put Protocols In Place For In-Person Classes

An image of a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine

First Shipment of Pfizer Vaccines Arrives

4 years ago COVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

Vaccination Portal Opens For 2nd Dose Pfizer Appointments

Beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Jamaicans due their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be able to make their vaccination appointments. Persons who fall in this category are asked to visit the Ministry of Health & Wellness’s website – www.moh.gov.jm and click on the vaccination appointment tab at the top of homepage to edit their appointment details. Persons will...

President of the Jamaica Association of Public Health Inspectors (JAPHI), Karen Brown, addresses a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, which was held at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional Office in St. James, recently.

4 years ago AgricultureHealth & Wellness

Backyard Poultry Farmers Urged To Get Butcher’s Licence

President of the Jamaica Association of Public Health Inspectors (JAPHI), Karen Brown, is encouraging backyard poultry farmers to obtain a butcher’s licence. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency's regional office in Montego Bay, St. James, recently, Ms Brown said that while licensing is not yet mandatory for this group, it is important in order...

An aircraft belonging to Frontier arriving at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay from Miami, Florida, in May.

4 years ago CoronavirusTourism

Frontier Airlines to Increase Flights to Jamaica

United States (US)-based Frontier Airlines has announced plans to increase the number of weekly flights to Jamaica, beginning November 1. International Sales Manager, Alfredo Gonsalez, told JIS News that three new gateways will be added to the existing slate, to bring the number of destinations from which scheduled service into Montego Bay is provided, to four. He said Frontier will...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addressing Wednesday’s (October 26) COVID Conversations virtual press briefing.

4 years ago CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

100 Private Doctors to Begin Administering COVID-19 Vaccines As At Wednesday

Starting Wednesday, October 27, approximately 100 private doctors will begin administering coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in their practice. Making the announcement at Tuesday’s (October 26) virtual COVID-19 Conversations press briefing, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the vaccines will be offered free of charge to patients. He informed that the doctors are registered with the Medical...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), engages with persons gathered at the Croft

4 years ago CoronavirusHealth & WellnessPrime Minister

PM Urges Continued Vigilance Against COVID-19

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that even though the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates are trending downwards, the population should remain vigilant against the virus. Speaking with reporters during a recent vaccination mobilisation tour in Clarendon, the Prime Minster noted that whenever the COVID-19 rates decrease, persons tend to feel that the country is out of danger and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), applauds as farmer, Leslie Sharpe (seated-right), takes the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, being administered by nurse Sasha Ford (right) at the James Hill Health Centre in Clarendon, recently. Sharing in the moment (from left) are Member of Parliament for Clarendon Northern, Dwight Sibblies; Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; and other healthcare professionals.

4 years ago CoronavirusCOVID-19 VaccinationHealth & Wellness

Government Considering Differential Treatment Based on Vaccination Status

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that Jamaicans will not be forced or mandated to accept the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, but noted that there may be “differential treatment” for persons who take the vaccines versus those who refuse to be inoculated. The Prime Minister, who was speaking with residents of James Hill in Clarendon, recently, noted that differential...

4 years ago Health & WellnessInformation

Sensitisation Needed to Reduce Hostility Aimed At Public Health Inspectors

President of the Jamaica Association for Public Health Inspectors (JAPHI), Karen Brown, says public sensitisation and education can better help to temper the varying levels of hostility that public health inspectors face in the line of work. Addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ held at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional Office in St. James on Saturday (October 23),...