PM Timothy Harris takes second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Ten weeks after taking his first dose of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris on May 4, received his second dose of the vaccine

St Kitts and Nevis: Ten weeks after taking his first dose of Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris on May 4, received his second dose of the vaccine during his visit at the Sylvia Garnette Primary Health Care facility in his hometown, Tabernacle.

Prime Minister Harris was one of about 70 people who had taken the vaccine when the government launched its mass vaccination program on 22 February.

After taking his second jab, Prime Minister took the opportunity to inform citizens and residents of St Kitts and Nevis, who have not yet been immunized and encouraged them to take the free COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to help the country achieve its goal of herd immunity.

“As part of the lifesaving strategy, the vaccines were the most important part of the fight and that the health advice was that each country should try to reach at least 70% of the population being vaccinated. It is a high order, but an essential order that we must achieve if we want to put our countries and our societies back to work,” said PM Harris.

Attorney General, Vincent Byron joins the Sylvia Garnette Primary Health Care Facility today in taking his second vaccination. Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy and commander of St Kitts and Nevis Army, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Anthony Comrie were also among the Prime Minister.

A number of people also took the opportunity to take their first shot of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

In other centers in St. Kitts, other members of the cabinet, including Health Minister Akilah Byron-Nisbett also received her second vaccination shot. A significant number of medical practitioners also administered their second dose along with senior government officials.

Prime Minister Harris reminded them that those who are still reluctant to take the vaccine, COVID-19 is still a deadly disease that is still wreaking havoc worldwide.

He said, “COVID-19 is a dangerous virus. It has killed and will continue to kill. It has turned almost every country he has visited upside down. As we speak, Trinidad and Tobago is locked up today. In parts of Jamaica, the situation is still dangerously bad today. As we speak, hundreds of people in the Caribbean have lost their lives.”

At the end of the day on Saturday, May 01, a total of 12,857 people took their first shot of the vaccine, representing 38.9 percent of the government’s target population.

On April 27, 2021, Prime Minister Harris announced several changes to the country’s COVID-19 protocols that would benefit people who were fully vaccinated, that is, people who had taken two doses of a 2-dose regimen vaccine.

Among the changes in the reduction of the quarantine period for fully vaccinated incoming air travellers to St Kitts and Nevis is dropped from 14 days to 9 days. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers can have access to venues from amateur and recreational sporting events such as football and basketball matches and athletics events from 20 May.