Tufton: More Pfizer vaccines coming as 100,000 people await second dose

WESTERN BUREAU:
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has sought to assure the more than 100,000 people awaiting their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine that a shipment should be arriving in Jamaica within a month. 

In the meantime, he is seeking to assure the cohort that they are still within the allowed 12-week window between doses.

Speaking on Thursday at his weekly COVID Conversations, Tufton said he was sorry for the delay in securing additional supplies of the Pfizer vaccine.

However, he said some 601,000 doses should arrive soon.

At least 400,000 are a gift from the United States while another 201,000 were bought under the COVAX facility.

Once the Pfizer vaccines arrive, people awaiting second doses will be prioritised.

Afterwards, priority will be given to young people aged 12 years and older.

At present Pfizer is the only vaccine that may be given to children.

Meanwhile, Tufton has urged unvaccinated Jamaicans to show up at any of the 90 vaccination sites islandwide this Heroes' Weekend.

"Become a hero on the scene. Take the COVID vaccine," said Tufton, reciting a line from the jingle being promoted by his ministry.

To date, 852,062 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.

The aim is to administer one million doses by the end of November.

As at Wednesday, Jamaica recorded a total of 86,722 COVID-19 cases with just over 2,000 still active, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Jaquiline Bisasor McKenzie reported Thursday.

There have been 2,059 COVID-related deaths.

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