No shortage of second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

Barbadians have been assured that there are enough second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine available to inoculate everyone who already received their first dose.

Co-coordinator for the National Vaccination Programme (Logistics), Major David Clarke, explained that people need not worry since the second doses for the first phase of the vaccination programme were placed in storage.

They will be administered to those persons who already had their first shot. Major Clarke further pointed out that health officials were currently only using available first doses as they continued the vaccination programme.

The rollout for the administration of the second dose of the vaccine is expected to start from April 17, 2021. Based on scientific information, the second dose is best given 10 to 12 weeks after the first to achieve greater efficacy. (MR/BGIS)