Following the arrival yesterday Monday March 1st, 2021, of 40 thousand doses of the Indian manufactured Covishield AstraZeneca vaccine, the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment, is moving swiftly to ramp up the vaccination process and get as many vaccines as possible into the arms of Vincentians.
Speaking at the handing over of the vaccines at the Argyle International Airport, yesterday, Minister of Health the Hon. St Clair Prince announced that the government is hoping to have at least 50 thousand Vincentians vaccinated by mid-April.
As part of this drive, the Ministry of Health will hold a walk-in day tomorrow at the Victoria Park where Vincentians are being encouraged to come and get vaccinated. No appointment is required one only needs to turn up. The vaccination drive which is part of a National drive is scheduled to begin at 9 am.
With the vaccines set to expire at the end of June, the Ministry will also be expanding its outreach to the various communities and will soon activate the vaccination process at all thirty-nine (39) Health Clinics throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The administration of the Vaccines is intended to stop the spread and effects of Covid-19 in this country. It is anticipated that once at least 70 percent of the population is vaccinated the country should achieve population or Herd Immunity and a return to a certain level of normalcy. Therefore, the encouragement coming from Government and Health Officials is for Vincentians not to wait too long but to utilize the vaccines that are available now.