CMO LAWS ENCOURAGES PERSONS TO BRING A FRIEND TO GET A COVID-19 JAB

Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 07, 2021 (SKNIS): Persons receiving a jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to bring along a friend or two, who are also willing to get vaccinated to avoid delays at health centers across the Federation.

One vial of the vaccine is used to provide 10 jabs. Given the limited global supply and rising demands, local health officials are mindful to carefully manage the vaccines.

“We really do not want to waste any of the doses, and so I want to recommend that if you are coming for your vaccine bring nine other persons with you,” Dr. Laws stated on the April 06, 2021 edition of the virtual forum series Leadership Matters.

St. Kitts and Nevis received a donation of 2,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Dominica on February 11, 2021. This was administered primarily to frontline workers. On March 01, an additional 20,000 doses were added to the national supply following a generous donation from India. Of that 20, 000 vaccines, 2,000 were given as a gift to Grenada.

As of last evening, Dr. Laws said that 9,774 first doses were administered to individuals. In St. Kitts, 7,325 persons have received a jab while, in Nevis, the number is 2,449.

Another 21,600 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived in St. Kitts today, April 07, 2021. The supply was purchased from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility.

“The vaccines are free to the people in the Federation, but they come at a high cost,” Dr. Laws stated.

The Chief Medical Officer encouraged persons to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect persons from getting severely ill or dying from COVID-19.
 -30-