#BTColumn – Get on board the vaccine train, Madam PM

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Alex Currie

I was flabbergasted that the PM would even think, let alone utter the words, she will not begin a vaccination programme for Barbados until some world organisation approves them for use.

Sounds like Canada and nearly every province. In spite of well acclaimed institutions of health approving medications for use this country seems to have a disease in the halls of its bureaucracy that say Canadians must be denied while we fritter away precious time being bureaucrats with NIH (‘not invented here’ attitudes so they have to repeat all the testing.

I grant that when it comes to COVID common sense has prevailed, and the vaccine has been approved for use here based on the UK and FDA authorisations.

Surely, the PM realises that 17 per cent of her population over 40 has diabetes and as such, most will have compromised kidney function, some coronary impairment and possibly other underlying conditions that put them at high risk.

Thirty-two thousand Barbadians are over 70. Thirteen per cent of all deaths in Barbados were due to coronary heart disease, so there is another segment of society at risk. Barbados ranks 15th in the world for asthma and has a juvenile asthma rate of 14 per cent vs. 22 per cent in the US.

This is a society at risk and while the protocols are doing a wonderful job, I know that in September someone who was asymptomatic slipped through but fortunately got caught and contract tracing was effective.

Will we be as lucky next time this happens, or a tourist defies quarantine and pops a positive second test having wondered at will?

Ms Mottley needs to err on the side of caution and get vaccines into the arms of Barbadians ASAP and stop dithering. It is insurance for the future recovery of the economy and the return of tourists.

Alex Currie
North Saanich BC