‘High demand ‘ for COVID booster shots, just in time to save jabs from expiring; ministry ‘considers expanding third-shot access’

Barbadians are flocking to get COVID-19 booster shots, said the co-coordinator of the National Vaccination Programme Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand Friday, as authorities consider widening access to other groups who can get their third shot.

Figures on the number of shots administered were not immediately available. Just over a week ago, Dr Ferdinand revealed that about 50,000 booster doses were available. Healthcare workers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were the first to receive their shots last Wednesday.

The third shots are currently available to people over the age of 70, those who are immunocompromised and frontline workers at high-risk exposure to the virus.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Dr Ferdinand said the response had been so good the Ministry of Health may include adults younger than 70 for the boosters.

“It is going very well indeed, she said. “I can’t give you the numbers at the moment but we are very pleased with the turnout and even people who are young have been calling to get their booster shots.

“We are going to have to have a look at it. In my mind, I think we need to expand it, but at the moment we have to balance our stock, our vaccines versus the number of people to be vaccinated, so it is a matter of management of our resources. But yes I think we’re going to cascade down to the younger age groups.”

She explained that due to the high demand for the booster shots, most of the thousands of doses of vaccines set to expire at the end of this month would be used.

Around 15,000 doses are due to expire at the end of October while another 35,000 doses are set to expire at the end of December.

“We still have tomorrow and Sunday so I’m hoping that some more of it can be used up. We may have some wastage but I am thinking not a lot,” she said.

Dr Ferdinand maintained that the booster shots would help significantly in the fight against the rampant Delta variant which has killed in record numbers since the pandemic reach Barbados in March 2020.

She said she expected the number of infections to decrease as the number of booster shots increased.

She told Barbados TODAY: “It’s a matter of if your immune system is high then it will be able to fight off the invasion of the Delta so I am expecting that the booster shots will have a good effect and stop the infections occurring in those people who have the booster shot.” randybennett@barbadostoday.bb