Madam Speaker, in keeping with the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ commitment to keep this Honourable House and the people of Jamaica informed of the latest developments on COVID-19, particularly on the availability of vaccines, I rise to share the latest information on the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
Update on Vaccines in COVAX Facilities
We have been advised by the COVAX facility that the country is set to receive between 146,400 and up to 249,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines by mid to late February 2021. This means that some 125,000 Jamaicans could be receive vaccines by the end of February into March.
Among those to receive the vaccines are our frontline workers, including our nurses and doctors and then to our vulnerable persons, chief among those are persons 60 years and older.
Madam Speaker, the availability of this vaccine is of course subject to the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing and the indicative amount is based on the current communication from the manufacturers,
Serum Institute of India and SK Bioscience.
Madam Speaker, if additional supplies under the COVAX arrangement are received, we will be able to vaccinate some 450,000 Jamaicans by the end of the year.
I must hasten to caution that it is likely that the allocation may need to be adjusted, as the present global circumstances are difficult to anticipate and the variables are constantly evolving.
There are several steps that we must action, Madam Speaker, as Jamaica prepares to receive its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, among them: