Barbados receives the first COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility

Barbados today received 33,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility, a global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The arrival marks a historic step toward ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first phase of deliveries for Barbados, and more vaccines are expected to arrive successively during 2021. According to the first round of COVAX allocations, Barbados is expected to continue receiving doses through May until it reaches 100,800, the amount specified by COVAX.

PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which is responsible for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for the countries of the Americas under the COVAX Mechanism, sent 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, manufactured by SK Bioscience of South Korea. The vaccines arrived today at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

“Seeing this arrival is very reassuring and it means that more people will be able to be protected from COVID-19,” said Dr Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries. “We will continue to work with the country to support vaccination along with the entire package of known public health and social measures that we know can help stop the spread of COVID-19, protect health services, and save lives.”

The arrival of these first vaccines will serve to protect priority groups and those most at risk, such as health workers and older adults.

Lt. Col. the Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness, said “A special thank you to our Prime Minister who has been relentless in her efforts to ensure that we have enough vaccines on island, to be able to provide vaccines for each and every citizen and resident of this country who is desirous of receiving a vaccine.  The vaccines represent a significant step forward in our fight against COVID as we pursue a path towards a destination which would include seeing Barbadians being able to return to as close as possible to the quality of life that we are accustomed living and the livelihood. “

Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in March 2020, the country has recorded 3,685 cases and 43 deaths as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

“The UN welcomes the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccine to Barbados, under the COVAX facility, since it brings countries one step closer to fully protecting their most vulnerable. We have learned the hard way that this virus has no borders, and our goal is to leave no country behind through universal access to vaccines. The only way that we can save lives, and ultimately end this crisis, is by ensuring that all countries are able to offer vaccinations to their whole population. The COVAX mechanism is a tangible reflection of this goal, made possible thanks to the solidarity of the international community. We are truly grateful to our many partners for their support,” said UN Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq.

“The arrival of these vaccines provides a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19, which has been battering essential services that secure the education and protection of our children.  UNICEF will continue to support the communication campaign which seeks to drive adult vaccination as an important step towards controlling the pandemic, so that we can begin to reimagine a better, safer and healthier future for everyone, especially children, young people and their families,” said UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area, Dr Aloys Kamuragiye

COVAX seeks to provide vaccines for at least 20% of the population of each participating country during 2021. In this first round of vaccine allocation, all COVAX participating countries will receive doses to vaccinate between 2.2 and 2.6% of their population. The only exceptions are small island developing States, which will receive an allocation of vaccines to cover between 16 and 20% of their population, due to the high logistical cost of delivering small quantities of vaccines.

Until vaccination is widespread among the population, basic public health measures remain the basis of the pandemic response. For public health authorities, this means continuing to conduct screening, contact tracing, isolation, assisted quarantine, and quality care. And for people, it means continuing to practice physical distancing, hand hygiene, the use of masks, adequate ventilation of indoor environments, and avoidance of crowded spaces.(PR)