COVID-19 vaccine secured for over 270,000 Jamaicans

Health and Wellness Minister of Jamaica, Dr Christopher Tufton announced that Jamaica stands to benefit from COVID-19 vaccines which could be given to over 270,000 Jamaicans.

The figure is based on the official estimate that the population of Jamaica is a little over 2.7 million people.

Tufton said that the Government has subscribed to the group funding to secure a percentage of the vaccines which comes on the market through PAHO/WHO.

He added that Jamaica is entitled, based on what the country is advanced, to 10 per cent of the population of Jamaica.

Tufton spoke about the next phase as well, which he described as the “coordination of distribution” of the vaccine.

He revealed that in another week or two, they would be announcing a national COVID Vaccine Coordinating Committee which would involve members of different stakeholder groups for coordinating and putting in place the plans for the distributing of the vaccine after it is available in Jamaica.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and biotech firm Moderna both said that their vaccines, developed in just months, can be ready as early as December for distribution.

Both Pfizer and Moderna companies said their vaccines are 95 per cent effective and have very few side effects.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is about 90 per cent effective and could be ready for rollout next year.