150,000 doses doomed for dumpster

Fewer Jamaicans have been returning for their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine this month, as the Ministry of Health & Wellness anticipates the dumping of some 150,000 doses set to expire in the next four days.

The revelation was made by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie who said 50,000 persons are due a second dose of the vaccine.

Bisasor-McKenzie made the disclosure at Tuesday’s COVID-19 press briefing.

The CMO said at the beginning of the month, 38,670 people turned up for second doses. Between October 3 and 9, 27,279 showed up. That figure decreased to 19,690 for October 10-16 and 8,607 last week.

Bisasor-McKenzie said also that new vaccine take-up has also decreased for the month, moving from 12,543 at the beginning of the month to 9,874 last week.

In a Gleaner interview on Tuesday, Medical Association of Jamaica President Dr Brian James said side effects experienced from the first dose could be the reason behind the decrease in take-up of second doses.

“A lot of people somehow didn’t realise that there were going to be side effects ... . Some people have had some fairly vigorous reactions, not a large number, but some people just didn’t expect it,” he said.

Misinformation and a robust anti-vaccine campaign have also been identified as factors for the decline, said James, who noted that the ministry would have to redouble its efforts on public education.

The ministry was forced to dump 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca that expired on September 30, drawing the ire of St Andrew East Rural Member of Parliament Juliet Holness, who blamed the ministry for allowing many adults to take the Pfizer jab, which is the only brand cleared for children.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that 100 private doctors have been engaged to administer the jab beginning today, expanding the opportunity for Jamaicans to take the vaccine.

“For us, it’s unfortunate that so many Jamaicans are still uncertain. So many are still questioning and so many are hesitant. Whatever we can do to overcome those objections over the next number of days, the intention is to do so,” he said.

Tufton said if the ministry is able to woo those due second doses, “that would go a far way”.

“To the extent that they are not utilised, we’re not going to administer expired vaccines to the population. We would then move to the next batch,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tufton said the ministry is to resume, on Monday, administration of the Pfizer vaccine to the 85,000 Jamaicans due second doses.

He said the ministry is set to receive 146,000 doses this weekend through donations from the Suriname government and procurement through the COVAX Facility.

The remaining doses will be administered to Jamaicans between 12 and 18 years.

He said, too, that a donation of just over 200,000 doses of the vaccine is expected early November from the United States.

Priority will be given to the 12-18 age group, as a policy directive from Cabinet, he said.

Additionally, the minister said the planned roll-out of the digital vaccination card remains on track for December.

He said the programme is being facilitated through a partnership with the Indian government and UNICEF.

It is not expected to cost taxpayers.

“In the meantime, the vaccine cards will suffice [for travel to the US],” he said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com