BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 19, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – At another successful Vaccination Clinic and Information Session held at the Lodge/Ottley’s Community Center, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris again urged persons to step forward and take their vaccination against COVID-19.
PrimeMinister Harris was one of the presenters who spoke at last night’s (Thursday, March 18) session. Medical Chief of Staff at the JNF General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson was also on hand to provide up to date, accurate information on the vaccine and to assure those in attendance and the hundreds who tuned in online that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that is being used in St. Kitts and Nevis is safe.
Dr. Wilkinson stated that, “More than 90 percent of the doctors in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis stepped forward and took the vaccine, almost all of our nurses took the vaccine, members of the Opposition took the vaccine. Now, if we have all of these persons who supposedly are well educated and have most of the facts about the vaccine and they have taken it, this must mean that this vaccine is good. There is no way 90 percent of the doctors in the Federation, which means that almost every single doctor you would have gone to for advice would have taken this vaccine and yet it would not be good, and so you have good reasons to take it.”
Inhis spirited presentation, Prime Minister Harris said that his Government is committed to returning St. Kitts and Nevis to the path of strong economic growth but noted that each citizen and resident has a part to play simply by being vaccinated.
Theprime minister said, “The power lies in you to turn things around. The power lies in you to ensure that we could get back to normal as quickly as possible and all you have to do is one thing – vaccinate.”
PrimeMinister Harris said persons must not wait until it’s too late, particularly as larger nations are using their vast resources to stockpile vaccines to the detriment of smaller, more vulnerable countries.
Headded, “There is a shortage [globally] but we have enough now to ensure that more than half the target group can get at least their first shot. Do not continue to waste time…by refusing to take the vaccine which is now readily available to you.”
PrimeMinister Harris and Dr. Wilkinson were the first two persons in the country to take the vaccine jab on the same day the vaccination programme was rolled out in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Followingthe presentations, some twenty-six (26) persons stepped forward and accepted the COVID-19 vaccine at the community center.
Atthe end of day on Thursday, March 18, the total number of persons to have been administered their first dose of the vaccine stood at 7,322. This represents 22.16 percent of the target population.
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