More than 83,000 people vaccinated in first islandwide blitz
Published:Wednesday | April 14, 2021 | 9:50 PM
Janet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica exceeded its COVID-19 vaccination blitz target by 12 per cent with 83,828 people receiving their first dose of the vaccine over five days.
The latest figure brings to 135,473 the total number of people vaccinated since March.
By March 2022, the government expects to vaccinate 1.9 million Jamaicans.
"The blitz weekend has shown that Jamaicans are interested in being vaccinated," Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said at a COVID press briefing on Wednesday evening.
IN PHOTO: A crowd of people at the St Joseph's Hospital in Kingston seeking the COVID vaccine
Hundreds of people were turned away from sites as vaccines ran low.
"It is a good problem to have," the minister said, but acknowledged that there is need for improvements in some of the procedures.
Routine vaccination returns on Monday, although stocks are limited, with the next blitz slated for the end of the month.
Most of the people vaccinated so far are aged 50 to 69.
Overall, more women were inoculated with 56 per cent females receiving the jab compared to 44 per cent males.
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