US’ donation of Pfizer to ramp up B’dos’ vaccination programme

Barbados’ COVID-19 vaccination drive received a major boost on Friday, when officials collected a shipment of 70,200 Pfizer vaccines from the government of the United States.

This forms part of 5.5 million doses of vaccines that Washington has pledged to donate to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and is the first of three shipments intended for Barbados.

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, while expressing thanks to the US for the Pfizer donation, called on richer nations to do more to assist less fortunate countries in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines as they continue to battle the pandemic.

“There can be no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the resources of almost every single nation across the globe. But the reality is that we didn’t all enter this crisis at the same time or on the same page or even with the same resources,” said Bradshaw.

“Therefore, the impact on each country has been different. This places a moral obligation on those who are better off to lend a hand of support to those who may not be. In the Caribbean with our tourism-dependent economies we have been hurt more than any other,” she said.

Bradshaw, who was speaking at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Friday morning following the arrival of the vaccines at around 10:15 on a DHL aircraft, said she hoped the donation from the US was a rekindling of close relations between CARICOM and Washington.

Pointing out that only 1.2 per cent of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Bradshaw said she was certain that if we lived in a world where fairness and equity underpinned how we dealt with each other, the situation would be different.

“Is it at all possible that those of us with the power to make decisions do not recognise that as long as one corner of the globe, where the virus is ignored then the rest of us remain vulnerable so long as that is allowed to happen?” she said.

So far, just over 100,900 people in Barbados have received a COVID-19 jab and just over 84,220 have received both doses. This means that just about 31 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Bradshaw said that the Pfizer vaccines came at an opportune time given that there were ongoing discussions about mandatory vaccination and regular testing.

“We can do nothing unless we have the vaccinations available to us,” she said.

According to her, the variety of vaccines was also necessary, pointing out that many people were not against taking the vaccines but wanted to know they had an option regarding which vaccine they take.

Barbados has so far administered the Moderna AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines.

“We still believe that the most effective way of fighting this virus is by having persons vaccinated. The next few months are going to be critical for us but today, with this donation we can take fresh guard in this battle against COVID-19, a battle that is ours to win if we move forward together,” she said.

Minister of Health and Wellness Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Bostic expressed joy at receiving the Pfizer vaccines.

“It provides also for the possibility of some of our students being able to access the vaccines if that decision is made at the appropriate level,” said Bostic.

He said while the vaccination exercise was “going quite well”, the process slowed because Barbados had no vaccines available.

“I am excited and looking forward to the rollout of this tranche of vaccines,” he added.

Bradshaw said the decision to offer the vaccine to children age 12 and older has not yet been taken.

“Those matters are before the vaccination committee and we are awaiting their guidance in terms of how and when we can be able to have that conversation with the public.”

Bradshaw, who is the Minister of Education, added: “Nothing will be happening in relation to vaccination (of children) unless there are consultations and the widest consultation with our stakeholders, in particular parents in this country.”

Officials have given the assurance that there was adequate storage capacity for the vaccine that has to be stored at special temperatures.

The recommended timeframe between doses is 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine.
(MM)