Councillor calls on Holness, Tufton to take jabs publicly
Published:Friday | March 12, 2021 | 12:20 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston/Gleaner Writer
A Clarendon councillor has called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton to take the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine publicly to inspire confidence in the shots among Jamaicans.
Councillor Carlton Bailey made the call yesterday as he addressed the monthly meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, a day after the country began administering the jabs to mainly healthcare workers.
Stating that he was one of the “vulnerables” and that was unaware of the side effects of the India-made vaccine, he said that he had some concerns, especially as to whether the jabs could cause blood clots.
His comments came in the wake of news that Denmark has temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine after reports of blood clots in some people, but its health authority has stressed that the move was precautionary as it has no evidence that the vaccine was responsible.
Health authorities have also pointed out that in Britain, where 11 million persons have been inoculated, only 11 blood-clot incidents were reported, none proven to be linked to the vaccine, pointing out that there was no higher rates of blood clots in the vaccinated people as opposed to the general population.
Hayles Division Councillor Scean Barnswell also called for more clarity.
“The Government now needs to sensitise the public some more about this vaccine,” he said, pointing to reports of the suspension.
“Overall many of my colleagues have indicated they will take the vaccine. Some have reserved their opinion, likewise myself,” he said.
But Medical Officer Dr Kimberly Scarlett Campbell was swift in allaying fears in stating the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine as she highlighted that the Centres for Disease Control reported that there is no evidence to link blood clots to it.
“This particular incident was for a certain batch and was from the European manufacturer. Twenty-four million persons have taken the vaccine, and there have been no associated reports of deaths, so it was one batch that it was reportedly linked to,” she shared.
She said that if there are doubts among persons who are in line for the jab and they refuse to take it, they should “step aside and allow somebody else to take it”.