PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis during his national address.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis made a strong appeal for all citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine yesterday, insisting the country’s economic rebound hinged on widespread administration of the jab.
In a nationally televised address, Dr Minnis said when a large percentage of Bahamians are vaccinated, more of the country will be able to open up, adding this would spark more jobs among other economic positives.
He said vaccinations will likely be a requirement by other countries to travel overseas and that cruise lines may also have the same stipulation.
While his address did not reveal specifically when the first vaccinations of 100,000 doses will arrive here, the Prime Minister said the government was expected to receive more details on the shipment today.
Dr Minnis said: “Vaccines are critical to ending the pandemic. In The Bahamas, there will not be a government mandate requiring you to take a vaccine.”
“However, we strongly urge all who are eligible to get vaccinated.
“I will take the vaccine. I will urge family and friends to take the vaccine. By getting vaccinated you will help the country to return to a greater level of normalcy.
“By getting vaccinated you will also help our economy to recover faster. When a large percentage of Bahamians are vaccinated, we will be able to responsibly open up even more.
“More economic activity will be possible, leading to more jobs, more working hours, more family income, more small business activity and a return of more tourists in the months ahead.
“It is also quite possible that being vaccinated will be a requirement by other countries for you to travel overseas. Other countries may not allow you to enter their borders unless you have proof of vaccination.
“We are hearing that cruise lines may require their passengers to show that they have been vaccinated. Proof of vaccination may be one of the critical measures in helping the tourism industry to bounce back around the world.
“As a leading tourism destination, we must play our part and set an example for the world.”
He reiterated that vaccine administration in The Bahamas will be a huge operational and logistical challenge, but a plan to this effect is nearing completion.
“The National COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan is in the final stages of completion in preparation for the arrival of the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines. The AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered in two doses.
“These COVID-19 vaccines will be available free of charge. Between eight and 10 approved vaccination sites have been identified on New Providence. This includes drive-thru sites.
“Vaccination sites have also been identified on Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.
“Health officials and the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee are looking at additional platforms to distribute the vaccine in order to increase access to and ensure equity of distribution to all communities.
“There will be a focus on high-risk populations where COVID-19 has occurred. Mobile units will be used to safely distribute vaccines to vulnerable populations in their communities. Vaccine appointment software is very near completion and is expected to be rolled out in advance of distribution.
“This will allow those who choose to take the vaccine to schedule their appointments digitally on their smartphone, tablet or computer. For those without access to the internet or a device, appointment centers will be set up to provide assistance with making appointments to receive the vaccine.”
Among the first priority groups eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on New Providence and Grand Bahama are healthcare workers; people over the age of 65; uniformed branch members; frontline workers; critical workers in high-risk settings and other essential service workers.
On the Family Islands, local medical teams will be assisted by mobile teams from New Providence where health teams will vaccinate all eligible residents who choose to take the vaccine at the same time. Dr Minnis said this means that everyone on the Family Islands will be vaccinated at the same time and the schedule will not follow the prioritised group rollout.
Regarding economic activity, Dr Minnis addressed what he called “reckless chatter” by some.
“Never in our recent history have we had to deal with disruptions of this scale. Thousands of people remain out of work. Hundreds of businesses are struggling to keep their doors open.
“Recently, there has been reckless chatter by some, suggesting that the country was on an economic precipice and that the country’s finances were in a depleted and chaotic state.
“At the same time, we are providing millions of dollars every month to support the special unemployment assistance programmes, the food programme, and business loans and grants, to Bahamian small businesses on a scale never before seen in The Bahamas.
“My government developed and announced its ‘Resilient Bahamas’ plan during the most recent budget exercise. We have been faithfully executing this plan.
“And, we have provided even additional funding to extend the food programme and the unemployment programmes which continue to benefit tens of thousands of Bahamian families.”
Dr Minnis said he will be presenting the mid-year budget in Parliament on Wednesday.
More like this story
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Comments
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
I don't trust a word uttered by this buffoon.
He should know. After all, it has been his abysmal mishandling of both the Hurricane Dorian crisis and the Red China Virus crisis that has greatly magnified and intensified the financial devastation so many of us and our country as a whole are experiencing.
Florida is booming, meanwhile just look at us. It can't get any worse for us, unless we somehow get cursed with another 5-year term of Minnis who sorely lacks even the most basic leadership skills and has absolutely no common sense. He is the complete polar opposite of someone like Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida.
Liberal 3 years, 8 months ago
Please don't call it the "China Virus" or any variant of that. My wife, who is Asian, but not Chinese, gets abuse because people think she is Chinese. There are some 2 billion actual Chinese who are in no way responsible for the virus. If it had started here, would you like it to be called the "Bahamas Virus"? It could have done and it would probably have been no fault of any Bahamian. As for the performance of the Bahamian government on covid, it has done fairly well on a per capita basis, much better than the U.S. as a whole, Florida alone, and most countries in Europe. (See, for example, https://offloop.net/covid19/?default=Ba…) If you want somewhere that's done a lot better than the Bahamas you could choose Cuba, or China itself, which latter is the only country whose economy has returned to healthy growth. Perhaps you would prefer their leadership?
bahamianson 3 years, 8 months ago
I want the pfizer vaccine. how do you sign up for that one? who wouldn't prefer the pfizer vaccine at 96% to the astrazeneca vaccine at 62%?
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
I believe in tried and tested natural immunity, not warp speed developed immunity of the bio-genetically engineered kind with unknown long term consequences. Just think of all the money (tax dollars) governments around the world are throwing at big pharma.
Big pharma's profits are soaring and this only serves to incentivize even more evil 'gain of function' virology research that will undoubtly result in the creation and unleashing of new deadly viruses. And this in turn will create the need for even more costly vaccines to permit the continued cashing-in by the evil greedy investors behind all of this madness.
It is long past time for the governments of the developed countries to put a stop to the evil profiteering investment activities of people such as Bill Gates, Dr. Fauci and many others just like them who are now popping up everywhere. But so far governments have been much more inclined to use the current pandemic as a means of stripping us of our civil rights and liberties, including our mobility and health privacy rights, in an effort to preserve political power and share in the profiteering of the superwealthy few who want complete control over all everyone else.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Not the Bill Gates conspiracy theory... Lol...
How did so many get to be so dumb?
Sheesh....
Clamshell 3 years, 8 months ago
I’m curious about your “natural immunity” remark, Tribanon: Do you honestly believe that you are immune from communicable diseases? What creates this immunity for you that others lack? Serious question.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Let's put it this way: I eat the right foods with an emphasis on fresh fish, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables & nuts; I only eat two meals a day with minimal snacking in-between meals; I have always avoided processed garbage foods and all greasy junk; I engage in rigorous exercise daily for at least an hour; I carefully wash my hands with soap & water a dozen or more times each day; I keep my hands away from my face as much as possible (never bite my finger nails); I take only two vitamin supplements daily - 2000 IU of D3 and 50 mg Zinc (have been doing so for decades now); I drink plenty of water each day and avoid sugary drinks; I limit my alcohol intake to two glasses of red wine a day; I have never smoked anything; and I make it a point to get an annual physical (medical) exam from a qualified PCP who happens to be a good friend of mine. And I can't tell you the last time I had a bad cold or case of the flu. I've had the usual vaccines and boosters but never any messenger RNA engineered ones developed at warped speed and don't plan to start now.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
Unfortunately, viruses can't distinguish between those with healthy lifestyles and those without
Clamshell 3 years, 8 months ago
As noted, a virus does not bounce off your body because you eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. It’s like claiming your diet protects you from shark attacks. SMH.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Lol..
ohdrap4 3 years, 8 months ago
It could. Vegan flesh tastes like spirulina and the shark doesn't like it.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Having a good natural immune system gives one the peace of mind to opt for the known versus the unknown. I know what the risks are in contracting the Red China Virus if you are in reasonably good health and have a good natural immune system. But I have no idea what the risks would be in getting one or more jabs of an entirely new messenger RNA vaccine developed at warp speed without the usual long term studies to determine the possible serious side-effects that might not become known until years later.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
Worldwide - COVID cases = 110,000,000; Deaths = 2,500,000 Worldwide - COVID vaccines administered = 200,000,000; Deaths = 0
I'm sure you can do the math
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Worldwide population = 8,000,000,000 (8 Billion people, that's 'Billion' with a 'B'); inflated Red China deaths worldwide = 2,500,000 (2.5 Million people); Chance of death = 0.031%.
And I know even you can do that basic math. LOL
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
And that 0.031% is okay with you then ? Cancer 'only' kills an estimated 1% of the global population each year, so we should probably stop looking into cancer treatments based on your logic
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
You've lost your train of thought. We were discussing matters that might influence one's personal decision to get a jab of the entirely new 'warped speed' developed vaccines. I've never suggested I'm against ethical and sound medical research of any kind.
Liberal 3 years, 8 months ago
There you are wrong. The risks of death for you from covid might be small, but they are a lot higher than those for the vaccine. And you are forgetting about the chronic disease ("long covid" - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanc…) that we are just beginning to learn about. Some experts are suggesting that there might be an epidemic of dementia to follow covid. It has been shown to attack the brain (https://blendle.com/i/newsweek/how-covi…) in many cases. It's certainly true that it attacks old people (your Mum, for example) and if you've had the vaccine you are less likely to pass the virus on to others, including her. There's one thing that is absolutely certain: the vaccine is a lot less risky than covid. Of course it's been produced in record time: it's like a moon shot. The science was already in place from many decades of research, the first vaccine was produced within days of the Chinese publishing the genome of the virus. The rest was just testing, and that was accelerated hugely by throwing money at the problem. Some trials could be done in parallel rather than sequentially, but there was no adverse effect on safety. Before distribution the vaccines had been tested on tens of thousands of people with no serious ill-effects and all the evidence was thoroughly reviewed by independent experts with no interest in the drug companies themselves. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-…
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
The regulatory requirements for approving drugs these days, even 'warp speed' ones, are much more stringent than back when the small pox vaccine was developed (18th Century). Over 300 Million people died from smallpox in the 20th century, which is about 3 times as many as those that died during WW1 & WW2 combined. The last case of Smallpox, worldwide, was recorded in about 1980. Not a bad achievement for a 'drug' that was invented in the 18th Century, when scientific knowledge was pretty limited, and there wasn't such a thing as regulatory approval.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
This is the very first time bio-engineered mRNA vaccines are being injected into humans on such a wide scale basis without observance of the normal strict long term study guidelines that would ordinarily apply before the roll out of any new type of vaccine. This is one big experiment and I sense you know that but nevertheless choose, for whatever reason, to be dismissive of that very important fact.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
On the contrary. You would be surprised how many drugs (especially oncology drugs), are approved without long term studies or even Phase 3 clinical trials. Some drugs are even allowed to be given to patients under compassionate use guidelines, even after the company developing the drug have themselves stopped the development program because of serious adverse events, or failure to meet a statistical meaningful endpoint in a clinical trial..
Medical science is always advancing, and if everyone had the same attitude as you towards 'new' science, we would still be using leeches and witch doctors to cure our serious ailments
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Now you're just being plain ridiculous. The use of experimental drugs that have not been subjected to a rigorous program of long term scientific studies do indeed present great risks for any patient consenting to taking them. It's why their use as a last resort under very strict requirements is mainly limited to patients who are terminally ill. And last I heard you have about as much chance of dying from the Red China Virus as you do of being struck by lightning, thanks in large part to the therapeutics and other non-vaccine treatments available today. Many of us have weighed the risks based on the information available, as we have the right to do, and will be choosing to avoid the inherent uncertainties associated with experimental mRNA vaccines that have been developed at warp speed by big pharma.
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
You are correct in what you say about administering to terminally ill patients.
However, the 'warp speed' thing annoys me. There are many reasons why it normally takes much longer to get a drug (or vaccine) candidate through clinical trials and then submit for regulatory approval. One of the biggest reasons is there is normally a lot of 'waiting around'.
On any given Sunday there are hundreds, if not thousands, of drugs in development worldwide. All of these are vying for limited resources such as volunteers for enrollment in trials (it takes time to find volunteers), CRO's (who have a limited number of slots to perform the clinical trials), CMO's (who have a limited number of slots and equipment to manufacture the drug or vaccine to be used in the trials). And, probably most importantly, the regulatory authorities such as FDA, EMA, PMDA etc have a limited number of personnel to review everything.
The regulatory authorities get involved at all stages of drug development (Toxicology, Pharmacokinetics, individual trial design, trial results, manufacturing process, packaging, stability, transportation etc. etc.), These lengthy reviews mean it can take several months before a drug candidate can move on to the next stage of development, as these reviews are all done on a 'wait your turn' basis.
Now, I don't know this for a fact, but I would bet a case of Sands that the COVID vaccine program was put right to the front of the queue in every respect (including rolling submissions) at the expense of all the other drugs under development at this time. .
shonkai 3 years, 8 months ago
Emigrate
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
To where? I said governments plural not government singular. Besides, if I emigrate to a country anywhere in Africa I risk becoming a guinea pig for the likes of Bill Gates and his blossoming bunch of evil virology friends.
Liberal 3 years, 8 months ago
You are wrong to think that the AstraZenica vaccine is inferior. The 96% and 63% figures were not produced on a level playing field. When compared head-to-head it looks as if the AstraZencia vaccine might actually be better. Certainly it is very effective: https://theconversation.com/how-well-do…
GodSpeed 3 years, 8 months ago
NO thanks.
birdiestrachan 3 years, 8 months ago
The PM frightens more than the vaccine ever can.. The man is indeed frightening..
TalRussell 3 years, 8 months ago
If by now you are still willing to trust them's promises, feel free, go ahead, leave many out of your decision.
What the most honourable comrade Mr. Minnis, really meant acknowledge is that a full 100% of the cumulative number of the colony's PopoulacesOrdinary at large POAL are waking up to yet another day living with not even 1 dose vaccination administrate into arms POAL.
Unfortunately for some from amongst POAL, they have ended up at the hospitals' overcrowded morgues.
Mr. Minnis's Redshirts are batting 0.00 percent of officially administrated does. The still, British Bermuda ranks16th out of 93 countries for vaccinations administered is at 15.6 doses per 100 people. No talks as to what percentage, if any, the colony's politically and monies privileged may have had unofficial sources other vaccine does avenues. Have any of the colony's workers stationed abroad been stabbed with injection, and if so, at who's expense?
bahamianson 3 years, 8 months ago
oh, PM, too many stripes and diagonal lines are going on with your wardrobe. the vertical lines in the suit clashes with the diagonal lines in the tie. Come on ,man. it is too busy.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Looking at all these dumb conspiracy theories we may very well have to make it mandatory....
It scary how so many believe such a childishly dumb, obviously false conspiracy theory... Sheesh...
GodSpeed 3 years, 8 months ago
If you want to take it, fine. But forcing it on others? What are you some kind of Nazi?
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Nazi? No. Just alergic to idiocy....
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
You, of all people....allergic to idiocy? Really? Now that's what I call one good example of an oxymoron. LOL
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
Sorry, that's not an oxymoron. An example of an oxymoron is 'icy hot' or 'pretty ugly'. Saying 'Allergic to idiocy' is an oxymoron would be the same as saying 'Antivaxxer intellect' is an oxymoron
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
An idiot allergic to idiocy is a royal oxymoron. And you're beginning to be quite the pseudo-intellect. LMAO
GodSpeed 3 years, 8 months ago
Well you sound like a Nazi, suggesting forced inoculations on people to take EXPERIMENTAL vaccines which NOBODY knows the long term effects of? What's wrong with you people? This virus has a 99.9%+ survivability rate, the media has you 🐏🐑🐑 completely brainwashed and in a state of hysteria with their inflated death count and constant fear mongering. FYI someone doesn't have to actually die of COVID for the death to be recorded as a "COVID death".
avidreader 3 years, 8 months ago
My dear Proud and Loud, I am curious as to how you can be so sure that anything that you don't subscribe to or consider even possible is only a theory. It would be wise to be just a little less dogmatic. It is doubtful that the truth behind this terrible situation is fully understood much less revealed.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Um Bill Gates wanting to kill off human beings is a dumb, childish, idiotic conspiracy theory. And how any adult can actually believe that baffles me to no end. Its just dumb. There is no other way to describe it. Totally dumb...
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
For most of his life Bill Gates has been consumed, in fact enraptured, by the prospects of using global population control as a means of addressing our planet's limited resources for sustaining an acceptable quality of human life. That's simply a well documented fact and anyone can read about it for themselves on many reputable websites. Do your own homework!
John 3 years, 8 months ago
The corona vaccine does not prevent a person from getting corona, but it lessens the chances of one getting it. It does not boost one’s immune system but reduces the amount of corona virus that is allowed to enter the body. So persons who are high risk or have pre existing conditions, will still be high risk or likely to get corona if exposed to the virus. None of the vaccines create heard immunity, and, in some cases some classes of people, like doctors, nurses, policemen and retail store workers, in The Bahamas have proven to have developed herd immunity as they work in areas where they may be regularly exposed to the corona virus but do not develop the disease and some don’t even show mild symptoms. And no one knows for certain how long the vaccines remain effective. But what is known with great certainty is the developers/manufacturers of the vaccines will make many billion$ when this exercise is over and done with. Most of the vaccines require a two-part dosage and with an average of $20 a shot the Billion$ add up. And as of now, the vaccines must be taken annually and so, at least into next year the pharmaceutical companies are sitting on nest eggs. And according to Dr Anthony Fauci, masks will be required well into next year. My opinion differs and mask wearing may be discontinued as early as summer.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Just keep yourself healthy and take daily supplements of vitamin D3 (2000 IU) and Zinc (50 mg).
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
So much is inaccurate with your post, I wouldn't know where to begin but I would start by suggesting you look into what herd immunity actually is
John 3 years, 8 months ago
Herd immunity is when a significant portion of a population has contracted a virus and now have antibodies such that they prevent the rest of a population from contracting a virus. Now would you be brave and say what else you find wrong with my post.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
So why would you say health care workers have herd immunity? Lol. That statement makes no sense...
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 8 months ago
Exactly.
Also, John, you having the antibodies does not prevent the virus from spreading to the rest of the population. You can still carry the virus (asymptomatically) and pass it on to someone else. It's only when the virus runs out of suitable hosts, either through mass vaccination or mass infection (90% population), that the virus will disappear or die out.
In order for healthcare workers, police,etc. to have herd immunity, they would have to either live on their own island or planet and either have all been vaccinated or all been infected, and never go anywhere near another person on another island or planet
Liberal 3 years, 8 months ago
Vaccines do boost the body's own immunity. See, for example: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conver…
TalRussell 3 years, 8 months ago
Enough Mr. Minnis talk. Brung on the vaccines, the PopoulacesOrdinary at large eagerly awaits their stabs in arms. No coaching needed.
TalRussell 3 years, 8 months ago
The closest we out islanders are to being anywhere near to any level of COVID immunity is the costly fight going on between Long Islands Chief Sheeprunner, and his legal team's lead attorney...all at the expense PopoulacesPurse.
Mr. Minnis and Renward, could've, should've secured lots of jabs the life-saving vaccines for $200,000. Some whacky priority herding of the PopoulacesPurse's scarce almost a quarter of a million dollars of monies. Sweet, Lord Jesus.
One of the beforementioned Sheeprunners, would've under Papa Hubert, done had his official car, W & S credit cards, and office keys, and briefcase, done snatched from him.
GodSpeed 3 years, 8 months ago
99.9%+ survivability rate
John 3 years, 8 months ago
The fact is, the numbers of Corona numbers were falling worldwide before the vaccines were effectively put in place. In fact the corona numbers have fallen by 70% in the YS since January. So the only reason for the rush to vaccinate is that maybe these vaccines will become obsolete in a few months.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Not so according to CNN, MSNBC and Fauci. And we all know how truthful they are in carrying out their propaganda campaign. LOL
John 3 years, 8 months ago
The UK is starting to re-open again after a long lockdown. Their cases have fallen from over 70,000 a day to under 10,000 cases a day. Again before the full effects of the vaccines were in place.
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