A bottle of the AstraZeneca vaccine is displayed in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
DUE to “limited” vaccine supplies, at this time the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine will be restricted to Bahamian citizens and permanent residents 18 and older, as well as residents in the previously stated priority groups.
The National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee made the announcement in a press release issued last night. The statement came a day after the committee said vaccine appointments would be open to anyone 18 and older as of yesterday.
The previously stated priority groups are: healthcare workers; people 50 years of age and older; people with disabilities; the uniformed branches; teachers and staff of schools; hospitality workers; restaurant and retail workers; students and athletes studying or competing abroad, coaches and other support staff; home-bound physically disabled residents; members of the clergy; and accredited media.
The committee said proof of citizenship, permanent residency status or a work ID will be required at the vaccination site.
“Failure to present the requested ID will result in appointment cancellation,” the committee noted.
“All residents will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine following the arrival of additional vaccines, which are expected in (the) country before the end of May.
“This announcement does not apply to individuals who have received the first dose of the vaccine. All persons who have received a first dose of the vaccine will be eligible to receive the second dose. The administration of second doses (is) scheduled to begin on May 10.”
On Sunday, officials said more than 25,000 people have received their first shot of the vaccine in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Abaco.
Meanwhile, other Family Islands began receiving their vaccine doses yesterday.
Last week, international news agency Reuters reported that the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines is "incredibly tight" and the “COVAX dose-sharing facility is unlikely to procure much more supply in 2021 than doses already reserved.”
In March, The Bahamas received 33,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility, a global effort to help countries get needed coronavirus vaccines.
The Bahamas is expected to receive additional doses in May until it reaches 100,800, the amount specified by COVAX.
The government of India previously donated 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to the country earlier in March.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit opm.gov.bs.
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Comments
Clamshell 3 years, 6 months ago
Why are we relying on welfare handouts of vaccines? A smart and aggressive government would have gone to the foreign-owned resorts and cruise lines and said, “Cough up, buy us 300,000 doses or we’ll shut you down for yet another season.” We’d all be vaxxed in about 3 weeks.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
So Minnis dem out there begging for vaccines but telling the Haitians Dem ainn none fer y’all.’ Chil’e pleeze!
mandela 3 years, 6 months ago
The best deal is to have the private sector employers secure the amount of vaccine needed (at their expense) for their employees and the government take care of the rest of the citizens.
ohdrap4 3 years, 6 months ago
The virus knows how to detect the microchip.
TalRussell 3 years, 6 months ago
Did I just happen to miss reading or watching coverage by local media of vaccine donations to our realm, by the People's Republic of China's (PRC), People's Liberation Army (PLA), who've reportedly donated vaccines to some 53 developing countries, exported to 27 nations. Was it we received vaccines cause we were on another list. or we just, did not make the PLA's list, yes?
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
The human traffickers are telling their customers in Haiti that the Bahamas will not only provide them with free emergency medical care, free food and free education for their offspring, but also free COVID-19 vaccinations. No doubt many sloops are setting sail from the Northern coast of Haiti and headed our way, especially with the seas usually being much calmer for the voyage during the summer season.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
Absolutely Bullshyt! The sloops are sailing because Joe Biden has changed the US immigration policies. Not only has he agreed to allow in more immigrants from the Caribbean (yes that includes Haiti), but if illegal immigrants make it to the USvand are discovered, they can remain in the US until their cases are heard ( unless they have criminal records), unlike under the Trump administration, where they were immediately deported. Canada became the country of choice to migrate to during Trumps presidency, because of his harsh immigration policies. But with Biden trillion dollar plan to reconstruct’ America’s infrastructure, there will be a severe shortage of manual labor. Biden also extended the time for temporary migrants (farm laborers) because again there was a shortage during Trumps ‘Great Wall’ administration. Also there was an extreme shortage of temporary migrants last year because many refused to travel to the US for fear of contracting the Corona virus. And so many crops went to waste in the fields because there was no laborers to harvest and process them. Trump did not realize immigration policies are not absolute and there has to be some level of tolerance and border crossings.
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
And just which country do you think sits between Haiti and the US as the ideal way station for those Haitians seeking to someday get into the US? That's right, The Bahamas. Unfortunately too many of these Haitians eventually decide to make our country their new home after they find the US Coast Guard and its new drone surveillance capabilities make it next to impossible for them to be illegally smuggled into the US by sea.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
And the Federal Government is rolling out it’s $15 minimum wage for Federal contractors and all their workers. This will mean Bahamians who qualify can now move to the US and get a green card. As Americans seek the higher paying Federal government jobs, more jobs will become available to immigrants. And if tourism and the cruise ship industry rebounds in late summer, early fall, this may mean a shortage of workers in this country by the winter tourism season. So yes, Haitians, some of them may decide to stay in this country. The hospital is already experiencing a shortage of qualified nurses as many trained nurses seek opportunities in the USA, Canada and the UK among other countries. And the police force are other armed forces are expected to see losses in manpower as persons retire or leave the forces for other reasons.
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