Bahamas lifts travel ban from South African countries, starts administering booster shots

 The Bahamian government has lifted the travel restrictions put on the South African countries on Wednesday. The Health Minister, Dr Michael Darville, made the announcement noting that the decision has been taken due to the milder nature of the new Omicron variant. 

Apart from this, the health minister added that the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine booster rollout has commenced by the ministry on Tuesday.

In the first phase, the eligible citizens who are of 60 years and above would be given the booster shots, while in the second phase, the eligible individuals who are of 18 years and above would be receiving the booster shots. 

He further cited, “The new Omicron Variant labelled by the World Health Organization as being more transmissible than the Delta Variant has already spread to some 40 countries around the world and is moving closer & closer to our shores”. 

The health minister cited that the government is hopeful of reaching its target of vaccinating a total of 200,000 citizens by the end of the ongoing year. 

While further highlighting the significance of the inoculation, he added that “The increased inoculation of our citizens and residents will certainly reduce the severity of the impact of the virus and make it easier for us to keep our economy open and enable us to continue our lives with some degree of normalcy“. 

The health minister also outlined that the ministry is having discussions with technical advisors to finalize the new testing protocols for the COVID-19. 

The health minister asserted, “We are happy to advise that beginning today (December 8), Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson COVID 19 vaccines will be offered as booster doses. The booster dose would be administered to those who acquired Pfizer or AstraZeneca, six months after the second dose, and Johnson and Johnson 2 months after the initial dose”.