PAHO: St Kitts and Nevis has high vaccination coverage rate

Pan American Health Organization – PAHO noted that St Kitts and Nevis Federation has a high coverage rate in the region, appreciating the efforts and strategies implemented by Prime Minister – Dr Timothy Harris since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. 

PAHO cited, “The COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate in St. Kitts and Nevis is ‘high’. This has been credited to very strong implementation strategies, including the fact that the – vaccination strategies were built upon a very substantial general vaccination program in the nation”. 

Around 77.1 per cent of the citizens are vaccinated by taking their first dose, while a total of 72.7 per cent St Kitts and Nevis population has received their required doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is now fully vaccinated, till November 2, 2021, according to the report of the health ministry. 

On the other hand, 9.1 per cent of the Caribbean island’s children are fully vaccinated, and around 12.3 per cent are vaccinated with one jab of the COVID-19 vaccine till now. The twin-island Federation holds the target to fully vaccinate 4,800 children who are between the age group of 12 to 17 years. 

“Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis – Dr Timothy Harris played a very significant role in the rollout & success of the program. This was a pivotal strategy in terms of people seeing the ‘leader of the Federation’ coming on board,” PAHO further added.  

A team of PAHO experts visited the twin-island from September 27 – October 1, 2021, during which the officials discussed issues of vaccine hesitancy, gave information on the Pfizer vaccine and its administration to children, examined the Events Probably Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization – (ESAVI) protocols & data capture for surveillance & to discuss with Pediatricians. 

Besides this, the team of PAHO also discussed the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts/World Health Organization (SAGE/WHO) recommendations for Pfizer vaccination, aided a discussion panel to address concerns that the health care workers might be having related to the Pfizer vaccine. 

The team further strengthened abilities for the delivery of the Pzifer vaccine and held a discussion on its technical support to enhance – ESAVI Surveillance. 

“Our team held training sessions and interviews with the healthcare workers; vaccinated people were also interviewed, visits were made to the – Central Medical Stores & some health clinics to observe vaccination sessions & to see how vaccines are being maintained. Discussions were held with the Pediatricians & the Surveillance team, and data management systems reviewed,” PAHO noted.