BVI News

Former Premier joins urgent calls for public vaccination

Former Premier, Dr D Orlando Smith. (BVI News photo)

With only days left before residents lose their opportunity to get vaccinated, medical doctor and former Premier, Dr D Orlando Smith has joined the government in encouraging public vaccination against the COVID-19 virus.

There is still widespread vaccine hesitancy in the BVI. This is evidenced by the fact that the BVI has an overall capacity to vaccinate 17,000 persons but only 12,500-plus persons have taken a jab to date.

Dr Smith said those who have not taken the vaccine are putting themselves and the territory at risk.

“This is a risk that no one should take knowing how serious getting COVID can be! And I must say that the individual benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs the risk of having a severe side effect,” Dr Smith stated.

“The benefit to the territory is obvious. It has been shown that countries and states within countries which have high rates of vaccination have significantly lower rates of infection. So let’s do the right thing to protect ourselves, the population of the BVI and our visitors from COVID. Let us all get vaccinated,” said the medical doctor and former Premier who added that he has already taken both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The current stocks of vaccines available in the territory are set to expire by July 31, 2021.

This means that in order to effectively use the vaccines in stock, persons still expected to receive their first dose can do so no later than July 3, Health Minister Carvin Malone previously said.

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17 Comments

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  1. oh boy says:

    marketing thats all this is

    Like 14
    Dislike 14
    • Freedom says:

      It is very disturbing that people are being pretty much forced to take the vaccine. Many people have health problems and are worried about taking an EXPERIMENTAL vaccine.

      Like 20
      Dislike 15
      • @ freedom says:

        Yes freedom comes with consequences. Choose not to get vaccinated but that comes with the risk that should you get infected you can get severely ill and possibly die. You do know that there are many who after recovering from COVID are still suffering with the long term effects of the disease.

        Like 7
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      • Curious says:

        At what point does this stop being an “experimental” vaccine? Millions of people around the world have been vaccinated with no negative outcome. Serious illness from Covid is significantly reduced by a population being vaccinated. I’m curious as to when you think it will be safe.

    • Zwolf says:

      I agree with oh boy

      Like 7
      Dislike 5
  2. I join Dr. Smith says:

    …in strongly suggesting that people get vaccinated against covid.

    Don’t miss the opportunity of reducing your risk of dying or becoming very sick from Covid.

    In the U.S. and elsewhere, the current data shows that nearly every new covid-19 death is now entirely preventable as per the CDC. The BVI will be no different.

    https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html

    On another note, I am concerned about those health workers who have refused to get vaccinated all the while insisting on remaining in their positions.

    The BVI Health Services Authority, and the Minister of Health should clearly state their position on this matter. Specifically, they need to answer if it is ok or not for unvaccinated healthcare workers to remain working with patients as they did prior to covid?

    IMO, healthcare workers should either get vaccinated, reassigned away from patient care, given a timeline to become in compliance. There is not much time to do so given the upcoming expiration of the vaccine currently in stock.

    It will be untenable for unvaccinated healthcare workers to continue taking care of patients unvaccinated, and a potential legal nightmare apart from the potential injury caused to patients if one of them inadvertently is linked to an outbreak at the hospital.

    While anyone has a right to either take or not take the vaccine, the right to work is not a given. Furthermore, the BVHSA has a duty to protect all its patients who receive medical services there.

    Like 21
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    • Bull$hit says:

      Stop following ‘mainstream’ news; they are lying to the viewing audience. Vaccinated deaths are being ruled under the umbrella of COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people have also caught COVID-19 so the damn jab does not work. I await the fall out (deaths) within 2 to 3 years of complications from taking the vaccine.

      Does not make sense to volunteer for an experimental drug which may or may not kill you. BVI Gov’t should use IVERMECTIN as an alternative to fight the COVID-19 virus.

      Like 10
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  3. sturpss says:

    Go urgently call for that 7 mill you throw away on bvi airways.

    Like 15
    Dislike 8
  4. Fedup says:

    What’s wrong with these ppl with vaccine them ain’t hear these vaccine are toxic .

    Like 18
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  5. lol says:

    We vote for NDP then we vote for VIP….hahahha da risk more than covid and we still here. This too shall pass sir

    Like 9
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  6. hmmm says:

    profiteers in action.

    Like 9
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  7. Zwolf says:

    I agree with oh boy

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  8. Rubber Duck says:

    Little use trying to convince these refusnik primitives of the values of the vaccine. Maybe their small minds will change when they realize that every time they travel it will be at least 3 different nose digs, days of quarantine and lots of dollars spent.

    And that will be tough when they are out of work . No jab, no job.

    Like 3
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    • @ Rubber Duck says:

      No concern what so ever that your basic freedom would have been taken away unless you took the experimental drug?

      Stupid, blind fool…all hooked to cnn, bbc and fox…and whatever sh!t laced “facts” that Facebook allows your to see.

    • Wow says:

      Rubber Duck you remain a jackass

  9. Tola says:

    You sound exactly like your name “Rubber duck” Blindly following the news and masses and not doing your own research. stop letting people control your mind. Ask your spirit to speak to you. Follow the Holy Spirit

    Like 2
    Dislike 2

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