Enough COVID jabs for half the population, as Canadian gift arrives

Barbados is now in a position to fully vaccinate another 15,000 citizens against COVID-19.

A gift of 30,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Canadian government arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport Wednesday afternoon.

There are now enough jabs to send the vaccination rate over the 50 per cent mark, with this donation of 30,000 doses in addition to the 33,600 jabs which arrived here last week through the COVAX facility.

The current vaccination rate hovers at around 35 per cent.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley was presented with the shipment by Ann Cleminson, chargé d’affaires of the Canadian High Commission.

Mottley hailed the donation as “yet another example of the fruits of our friendship” which she suggested has intensified over the last half-century.

She declared: “There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, as I have said repeatedly, that vaccination is the most important and potent layer of protection available to our people.

“The only way we will get our economy firing again at the level that is necessary to support our society is to get our people vaccinated.

“This gift from the Government of Canada will help to propel us along this path, and I encourage every Barbadian to take advantage of it as quickly as possible.”

The Prime Minister has led a chorus of disapproval over the hoarding of vaccines by developed countries and dominating purchase. This vaccine nationalism, as she has described it, means that their people in rich countries will never be truly safe until people everywhere also have access to the vaccine.

Canada’s donation of the 30,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine is being viewed by Barbados as an acceptance and appreciation of Government’s position on the need for the equitable distribution of vaccines, according to a Government statement

So far, Ottawa has poured more than $2.5 billion into the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to this bilateral vaccine donation, Canada has actively supported Barbados throughout the pandemic to respond to the global crisis and facilitate access to vaccines, including, through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility.

The Canadian Armed Forces, which provided airlift for COVID-19 supplies to a temporary Integrated Regional Logistic Hub, is now working to set up a permanent logistics hub and training facility in Barbados, according to the statement.

Canada’s regional support to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has also helped the Barbados Defence Force’s Emergency Medical Team establish and equip a COVID-19 isolation facility, which converts to a mobile field hospital for the region in the event of a disaster, it said. 
(BT/PMO)