Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune staff
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville says the government is planning to roll out booster vaccine shots to immunocompromised Bahamians and residents before year’s end amid mounting concerns of a possible fourth COVID-19 wave.
Earlier this week, Dr Darville told The Tribune local officials were examining whether to offer third shots to Bahamians with weakened immune systems, including residents over the age of 60.
Yesterday, he told reporters that given the imminent concerns about another virus wave hitting the country, officials decided to make the shots available to best protect those most vulnerable against the disease.
According to Dr Darville, officials are now in the final stages of developing a platform to assist with the distribution of third doses.
He also added the system should be launched sometime this week or next week.
“We’ve clearly indicated that we’re looking now to give the third jab to the immunocompromised and the platform for that is being done as we speak and so hopefully this week or next week we will launch that platform,” the minister said before heading into yesterday morning’s Cabinet meeting.
“We’re concerned about the possibility of a fourth wave and those individuals who are at high risk, we will like for them to get their third jab in order to protect them and prevent them from being hospitalised and the possibility of demise.”
Asked if Bahamians can expect the shots to be rolled out before year’s end, the minister replied: “Definitely before the end of the year”.
This comes after the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that it will be authorising booster shots for all adults over 18.
The CDC said Americans over 50 as well as those 18 and older who live in long-term care facilities “should” get booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
All adults over 18 “may” get booster doses, according to the CDC.
Recipients of Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine were already cleared to get a booster at least two months after their initial shot. Officials in the United Kingdom have also cleared the AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster shot.
Dr Darville said: “We’ve been reading the CDC reports and we realise that many countries across the world are offering the booster shots. For that, we are definitely looking at it in our consultative committee but at this particular time the final stages are being put together in order to for us to launch the third dose for immunocompromised individuals while we beef up our vaccination campaign throughout New Providence, the Family Island and Grand Bahama for residents everywhere.”
According to the government’s latest vaccine tracker, 143,434 people in The Bahamas have been fully vaccinated against the virus, while 141,983 have received at least one vaccine dose.
In terms of daily COVID-19 infections, data from the Ministry of Health show that cases continue to trend downward, with only 223 cases still active as of November 21.
The stabilised COVID-19 situation in country comes as some countries, including the US and much of Europe, are seeing a rise in virus numbers.
Yesterday, Dr Darville advised Bahamians travelling abroad ahead of the holiday season to continue adhering to the recommended health measures.
He said: “For those travelling to the United States, some things are essential – mask wearing, do not take it for granted. Make sure you have a high-quality mask and make sure you keep the mask on in public spaces.”
“Make sure you wash your hands when you are in the store shopping, try to be as socially distant as you possibly can. The CDC has published some results that clearly indicate that mask wearing reduces the possibility of transmission for COVID and we encourage every Bahamian to do so locally as well as when they’re abroad.”
More like this story
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- Phased booster rollout is underway
- PAHO official: Don’t use doses for boosters now
- VITAL VACCINES MAY BE UNUSED: End of month deadline looms for 20,000 J&J doses public don’t want
- EDITORIAL: Booster shots are to be welcomed
Comments
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
CDC third vaccine shot a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is the same shot as doses one and two. What vaccine requires a third shot after just months. Either the jab should not be termed vaccine at all or simply covid boosters 1, 2, and 3, then 4 etc. According to Gates they are proven not to prevent transmission. Also scientific data proved the jab facilitates the spread.
https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org…
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-n…
Here it was denied by experts for persons over 18. But then the decision was overpowered to fit in with guesswork.
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
https://m.theepochtimes.com/mkt_breakin…
Democratic Gov goes against Biden vaccine mandate. We need to bring Trump back.
ted4bz 2 years, 11 months ago
Now either we (all) end this by blocking out these political tarradiddle’s and diddling or continue with the push further and deeper down into this political and industrial cold dark tunnel. The way out for those not already all shot-up with this experimental drug is not to get involve with this non-transparent operation in the first place. As for those who are already all shot up, well at this point there is no experimental, medical nor medicinal solution. To those who have taken the bate, well your health is pretty much trapped, your health is compromised by the drug, going on in denial is not the way out. To continue with this madness means there is NO end in sight, NO way out, NO beneficial value, NO sense in this, NO taking control of your health nor your life, NO privacy, and NO happy ending either. But you can put an end to them, block them out and defy their madness. SAY NO TO THE SHOTS. NO MORE SHOTS. SAY NO AND MEAN NO!
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
No one is fully vaccinated after about 4 to six months as all the vaccines looses efficacy from 90% to 50%. That is major phsrma are producing something that prevents Covid. Dr Darville has alluded to getting those in so he is fully on the ball for our safety in the face of powerful international mixed messages. A far cry from Minnis follow the leading narrative no matter the damage. We know wisdom when we see it.
CoolCatBD 2 years, 11 months ago
13 Aug 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1GF0H9…
DDK 2 years, 11 months ago
More caca. I believe this man is actually worse than Minnis as relates to these "vaccines" and the covid fear-mongering.
tribanon 2 years, 11 months ago
This guy is not only as crooked as can be, but also a creep.
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
Under Minnis we could have been under restrictions for another six months. Thank God for Darville try to steer our poor ship back to calm waters.
JokeyJack 2 years, 11 months ago
Have you not read the "new" regulations? Same as the old regulations except for curfew. Wow. The massa take of the shackle and replace it with a leg iron. Happy slave.
ohdrap4 2 years, 11 months ago
Shush man. The restrictions in Europe are cringeworthy.
Good thing Minnis is gone. There is a lesser risk of the unvaccinated being put under house arrest.
JokeyJack 2 years, 11 months ago
Nobody even asking WHERE this 4th wave coming from. Which laboratory is producing the new variants? But I guess people learned from last time, talking about Wuhan, that you wasting your breath.
DillyTree 2 years, 11 months ago
Would love to know what medical schools all these "expert" posters got their medical degrees!
Personally, I'll listed to the medical authrorities, not the noise in the market...
ohdrap4 2 years, 11 months ago
I would love to know where many doctors got their degrees.
Isn't the top gun at Pfizer a veteronarian?
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
4th wave appeared in nations with January rollout on months eight and nine. After near 80% vaccination that should have crossed into utopia safe cure national herd immunity for the world to follow but something went wrong. Instead they had to rush to booster phase.
carltonr61 2 years, 11 months ago
Filly vaccinated Israel facing 5th wave.
https://m.jpost.com/health-and-wellness…
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