Nearly 5K doses of Pfizer arrive! Rollout starts Friday
The BVI has now received 4,680 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and its seventh shipment of AstraZeneca which is ready to be distributed to the public.
Governor John Rankin made this announcement at a press conference on Thursday while reiterating the United Kingdom’S (UK) commitment to support the territory through the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The other big news from yesterday is that we were able to deliver the first doses of the Pfizer vaccines to the BVI and that was made possible because the government has been able to procure a freezer that can keep Pfizer at the necessary very low temperature for the vaccine to be able to be used properly and safely within the territory. Four thousand six hundred and eighty doses of Pfizer vaccine have been delivered and now can be rolled out to priority groups,” he stated.
After months of planning and putting systems in place, Health Minister Carvin Malone said it was nice to see the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine in the territory.
“This is a very pivotal moment for us in the fight against COVID-19 because now we get to add another layer to our resources. We are now in a position to offer booster and third doses of AstraZeneca vaccines,” Malone said.
“Throughout this pandemic, I have been very clear on promoting my stance on vaccination because it is our best offence against COVID-19. It pleases my heart to know that we are in a position to continue to arm our community with our necessary tools to aid them in this long battle against COVID-19 including that critical age of adolescence and teenagers who have not been able to access the vaccines,” the minister added.
Distribution
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ronald Georges said the initial stages of Pfizer vaccine distribution will be conducted along priority groups similar to the role out of the AstraZeneca vaccine last year.
He said the groups are healthcare workers, the elderly (ages 65 and over), children 12 to 18 years, immunocompromised persons, and frontline workers.
“From the 17th (tomorrow, Friday) we are hoping to have healthcare workers get vaccinated, both public and private sector. The BVI Health Service Authority will contact the workers directly and organise for them to begin their vaccination at the HAS (HSA). Phase II we hope to start next week on December 20 and it will include our frontline workers. They are the same group that was for AstraZeneca. The police officers, firemen, immigration and customs officers, officers at the airport and seaport and Virgin Islands Search and Rescue officers,” Dr Georges said.
The acting CMO said next week they will also be trying to vaccinate residents from the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly and Virgin Gorda Elderly Home along with dialysis patients.
He said he hopes to bring the private sector on board to have Pfizer available in their practices through more training in the coming weeks.
He said the tentative date for Pfizer being available for residents who do not fall within the priority groups is in January but the HSA will play it by ear based on how the vaccines are rolled out and the uptake by persons.
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ROLL UM OUT AT THE PREMEIR’S PARTY
Thank you UK! We are very lucky to be an OT during the pandemic, just like we were after Irma, when the Brits stopped the looting.
What does ‘looting by the Brits after Irma’ mean? It wasn’t the Brits taking the Nike trainers, computers, clothes and bedding from the shops in Road Town.
keep messing with YAH’s people uk, his power is in the storms, more storms coming your way.
Well Yah’s people stubborn and stiff necked.. No one forcing them… Save yourself…Make sure you don’t take it…
Why is these politicians sooooooo stupid?
they not stupid, you now seeing who they work for.
Get those things in the labbies arms God knows they’ve been itching for it give them some sort of relief from their suffering
The FDA was paid by the taxpayers in the past, now they receive their income from Big Pharma. When you see the class suit commercials that say ” you could be eligible for compensation “. Those are the same drugs that were passed by the FDA. Big Pharma in bed with the FDA. Wake up people.
Forgive them the Ministers don’t know they are exterminating there own people. The power they cherish now will all be taken away by Satan when there is no more use for them.
There is a reason why we all have to die that is what make all people equal per the bible.
they not stupid, you now seeing who they work for.