Bahamas to receive around 66,000 vaccines by end of May

Bahamas: The distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in The Bahamas will begin on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, on the islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee announced yesterday.

Individuals eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine in this first phase include:

• healthcare workers in the public sector, and private sector healthcare workers participating in the vaccination rollout;

• residents and staff of eldercare homes and non-ambulatory residents registered in the public health system; and

• team of the uniformed branches (Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Bahamas Department of Corrections, Bahamas Customs, and the Department of Immigration).

Appointments are not required for residents and staff of eldercare homes and non-ambulatory residents, who COVID-19 Vaccine Mobile Units will vaccinate.

The appointment system will go live on Tuesday morning, 16 March, for healthcare workers and uniformed staff members, beginning with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Eligible healthcare workers and uniformed branch staff will be informed within their respective institutions regarding how to make their appointments.

In this first phase, all eligible vaccine candidates will be required to present an ID code generated by the appointment system and valid government-issued identification at the vaccination site.

Starting Wednesday, vaccinations will be administered at public health institutions, including the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Rand Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital, and the vaccination site at Loyola Hall on New Providence for Community Health providers.

Those required for the continuity of Government, including Government officials, will be vaccinated during this initial effort.

A pilot of the vaccination process was conducted on Sunday at Loyola Hall, Gladstone Road, to ensure a smooth rollout. A group of 110 individuals took part in Sunday’s pilot. The group consisted of healthcare workers, the uniformed branches, and volunteers working on the vaccination campaign, including data entry clerks, vaccinators, medical observers, and other volunteers.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and Mrs. Patricia Minnis, and Minister of Health Hon. Renward Wells also received the vaccine on Sunday.

As the COVID-19 vaccination program progresses, public members will be notified in advance of eligibility to make their appointments to receive the vaccine.

More information will be provided as it relates to the rollout in the Family Islands in short order. The Bahamas is expected to receive an additional 33,600 COVID-19 vaccine doses before the end of March through the COVAX Facility. A further tranche of approximately 66,000 vaccines is expected to arrive by the end of May.

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