Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 09, 2021 (SKNIS): Since the roll-out of its COVID-19 vaccination programme on February 22, less than two months ago, St. Kitts & Nevis has done better with its vaccination programme than many countries in the developed and developing world, continuing with its stellar management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The country has only recorded a meagre 44 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with all cases recovered and no serious hospitalization of persons, although its JNF General Hospital in St. Kitts and Alexandra Hospital in Nevis, have been prepared with several ventilators, pharmaceuticals, and specialist healthcare workers even before there were one positive case. On top of that, the country’s astute management of the virus has not resulted in one death, a rarity globally.
While there are challenges in persuading citizens and residents in taking the jab, just like many countries around the world battling a ferocious misinformation and disinformation campaign, the country is doing well in vaccinating 10, 391 persons in just 47 days, reaching 31.45 percent of its target population of 33, 037 persons, who would make up the 70 percent required for herd immunity. The other 30 percent are under the age of 18 and not eligible to take the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, which is the only vaccine being offered in the country through COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and others.
As of April 7, 2021, the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Situation Report stated that Antigua & Barbuda had only vaccinated with one dose 27.4 percent of its population; Barbados 22.2; Dominica 24.6; Grenada 9.2; Montserrat 30.8; Saint Lucia 12.1; and St. Vincent and the Grenadines 9.7 percent. Canada had only vaccinated 16 percent of its population with one dose, the USA 33 percent, and the United Kingdom 48 percent. However, it must be noted that their vaccination roll-out programmes began weeks ahead of St. Kitts & Nevis’.
The Ministry of Health has been hosting Vaccination Information Sessions to address citizens and residents genuine concerns with respect to taking the vaccination especially over concerns seen in the news, the fact that the vaccines are new, and that the world had not seen a pandemic in a century.
However, an important milestone was achieved when the Ministry of Health not only met its target of vaccinating 10, 000 persons by April 16 but even surpassed it by almost 400 persons.
St. Kitts and Nevis is on the road to economic recovery and as the country continues with its vaccination programme, which is crucial to that recovery, business leaders, church leaders, and public sector officials are encouraged to persuade those in their charge to take the jab.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, in speaking to a gathering of business executives and senior-level government officials at a forum at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel on April 9, 2021, to discuss the socio-economic recovery of the country, said that the road to that recovery relies heavily on the successful roll-out of the vaccination programme.
“The vaccines are now here but it is relying upon you and me to make the right decision if we are to get the [pandemic] behind us and that in itself poses a challenge. It poses a challenge for the overall trajectory of the country because the actions of one individual or a few individuals could determine whether or not we recover fast or we recover slowly. That is why we need to have all hands on deck, all involved and that is why the philosophy that we developed of an all-of-society response, which has kept us safe with the best record among independent countries in the hemisphere, that philosophy must continue even now,” he said.
“It’s a long journey but every step is an important one that gets us to the goal of herd immunity – the 70 percent target that we have set for ourselves and we need to commend each other and encourage each other for doing good. Taking the vaccination is not just about individual and individual rights. Taking the vaccination is an act of selflessness, in my view, it is an act of patriotism because the very act can determine how far we go, how soon we will get there, whether 2000-plus people in the tourism industry will be able to get to work again depends on whether or not the taxi drivers, those in our restaurants, those in our schools get themselves vaccinated,” Prime Minister Harris added.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 07, 2021 (SKNIS): Persons receiving a jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to bring along a friend or two, who are also willing to get vaccinated to avoid delays at health centers across the Federation.
One vial of the vaccine is used to provide 10 jabs. Given the limited global supply and rising demands, local health officials are mindful to carefully manage the vaccines.
“We really do not want to waste any of the doses, and so I want to recommend that if you are coming for your vaccine bring nine other persons with you,” Dr. Laws stated on the April 06, 2021 edition of the virtual forum series Leadership Matters.
St. Kitts and Nevis received a donation of 2,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Dominica on February 11, 2021. This was administered primarily to frontline workers. On March 01, an additional 20,000 doses were added to the national supply following a generous donation from India. Of that 20, 000 vaccines, 2,000 were given as a gift to Grenada.
As of last evening, Dr. Laws said that 9,774 first doses were administered to individuals. In St. Kitts, 7,325 persons have received a jab while, in Nevis, the number is 2,449.
Another 21,600 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived in St. Kitts today, April 07, 2021. The supply was purchased from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility.
“The vaccines are free to the people in the Federation, but they come at a high cost,” Dr. Laws stated.
The Chief Medical Officer encouraged persons to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect persons from getting severely ill or dying from COVID-19.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 25, 2021 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Health is aiming to vaccinate 10,000 persons on or before April 16, 2021, says Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws, during the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on March 24.
The Federation has in its possession 20,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine. As the vaccine is given in two doses, 10,000 persons are the target. As of March 24, 8,123 persons have received the vaccine so far. This means 24.6 percent of the target population has been vaccinated.
Dr. Laws stated that the COVAX Facility has allotted 21,600 doses to the Federation. This means an additional 10,800 persons can be vaccinated.
“Based on information coming out of the facility, we hope to receive 7,200 doses in March of this year, 7,200 doses in April, and 7,200 doses in May,” she said. “So, between now and May we can cover an additional 10,800 persons.”
The Chief Medical Officer said that the Federation is aiming to provide coverage for 70 percent of its adult population. She added that to achieve this goal, 25,000 more doses are needed.
“The Ministry of Health, our Cabinet, and the leadership of the Federation, we are doing all we can to access these additional 25,000 doses,” she said. “Access to the COVID-19 vaccine is crucial to curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infections.”
The Federation is also aiming to reach the herd immunity threshold by June or July of 2021, said Dr. Laws.
“The quicker we get there, the better it is for our health system and for the socio-economic context of our Federation,” she said. “It’s an all of society approach and we are appealing to everyone in the Federation. We want to thank those who have already come on board and said yes and consented to take their first dose. We are now reaching out to the others in terms of empowering yourself with the information and we are asking you to make an informed decision, come on board and help us attain this goal of reaching our herd immunity threshold.”
Dr. Laws noted that once herd immunity is achieved when the Federation accepts inbound passengers by air or sea, the risk of clusters developing will be reduced.
“The risk of our going into community transmission will be considerably reduced because the herd immunity provides indirect protection to the vulnerable and to those who cannot be vaccinated,” she said. “That’s why we are imploring our people to come on board.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 23, 2021 (SKNIS): The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective after a recently concluded study and subsequent report in the United States, said Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris during his monthly Press Conference on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Conference Room.
Prime Minister Harris made the statement in light of reports of blood clots in some persons who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there is no link between the vaccine shot and an increased risk of developing blood clots.
“AstraZeneca’s vaccine is very safe. About 500,000 doses of this vaccine were made available to the region,” said Prime Minister Harris.
Prime Minister Harris touched briefly on a study that was conducted recently indicating that the vaccine is safe and effective.
“Just yesterday, data was released from a long-awaited USA-based safety study of the AstraZeneca Vaccine. The study confirmed that there is no evidence of increased risk of thromboembolic (blood clotting) events or rare blood clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is helpful news,” he said. “Additionally, the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization, both have reported that the AstraZeneca vaccine is very safe and has been effective so far. Our own health experts have assured us that the vaccine is very safe. The vaccine that we are using has passed multilayered evaluation by expert panels before it was granted emergency use approval by the prestigious World Health Organization.”
Dr. Harris said that the early actions taken proved effective in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), adding that the government will continue to work to ensure that such practice remains effective.
“Our early actions helped contain transmission of the virus and kept the people of St. Kitts and Nevis safe. We will continue to explore all avenues to secure additional vaccines through the COVAX Facility and through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Our Ministry of Health continues to provide guidance on the procurement of vaccines,” he said.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 22, 2021 (DBSKN) — Endeavours by the Directorate and Management of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis for ensuring that members of staff are kept abreast with the latest information on how to remain safe and protected in the face of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, and by extension their families and the institution’s clients, have been applauded by a senior Ministry of Health official.
At the invitation of the Management of the Bank, National HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator and Health Educator, Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre, conducted a Covid-19 Vaccination Information Session at the institution’s head office on the corner of Church and Central Streets in Basseterre on Thursday March 16 for management and staff.
A Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic was conducted, at the Bank’s boardroom immediately after the information session, by Coordinator, Community Nursing Services, Ms Davida Irish. She was accompanied by Nurse Merle Hodge, Nurse Diana Warner, and Nurse Patricha Henry who administered the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to a number of staff members.
“It was a pleasure to be invited by the Management of Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis to give sensitisation on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre. “I was delighted by the concern the Management has for its staff and customers, which is commendable and should serve as a motivation to other parastatal organisations and business establishments to emulate.”
The team was welcomed by the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lenworth Harris, who advised the staff that Dr Afortu-Ofre would be efficient with his presentation and told them that he expected them to pay attention and if there would be any issues and concerns, they would then ask questions. He added that with all the information circulating in public space, there would be many questions.
Dr Afortu-Ofre was introduced to the staff by Human Resources Manager, Ms Danienne Brin.
In his delivery, the Health Official advised the Bank staff that while many Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, only a few have been approved by the World Health Organisation for use. Those approved include the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine which is being rolled out in St. Kitts and Nevis. He advised that it has minimal, if any, side effects.
“The doctors have taken it – why shouldn’t we? And the leaders of the Federation have taken it and they lined up first – why shouldn’t we take it?” posed Dr Afortu-Ofre. “So trust me, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Ministry of Health have the interest of the people at heart otherwise they won’t line up to take it. So, for me to take it and I am here strong – in fact I am waiting for my second dose in the next eight weeks. You should do the same thing – there is no reason why you shouldn’t take it. Remember the virus is killing a lot of people out there.”
The staff members were however advised that should they take Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines which are two-dose vaccines, and should they travel for example to the USA, when the time for their second dose comes around, they should only take the one they took for the first dose because there is no documentation that backs up if it will not have any counter reactions to different vaccines.
“So we are asking that if you take Oxford-AstraZeneca, you stick to Oxford-AstraZeneca,” implored Dr Afortu-Ofre. “If you are taking Pfizer-BioNTech, you stick to Pfizer-BioNTech. It is not a compulsory thing but we are here to encourage you to see the need of protecting yourself.”
At the end of the presentation members of staff were encouraged to go to the boardroom to take the vaccine by CEO Mr Lenworth Harris, who added: “For those of us who will be going, I have gone already and there were no side effects. There are others who would have gone, and they are here still. I really want to encourage everyone to take it – make use of this opportunity.”
Giving his comments after the presentation, National HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator and Health Educator Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre said: “It was a great educational session as the participants were very interested in acquiring more knowledge to enable them make well informed decision of the taking the vaccine. After the session a number of them took the vaccine by abiding to the phrase: Don’t wait, don’t hesitate, just vaccinate.”
In the meantime, Marketing and Product Development Officer at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Ms Chantelle Rochester, who was the first to take the vaccine, thanked Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre, Coordinator, Community Nursing Services, Ms Davida Irish, and the three nurses who took time from their busy schedules to educate the Bank’s Management and Staff on the Covid-19 vaccine, and offering the vaccine to those who had not been vaccinated.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 08, 2021) — Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has launched a social media jingle contest to encourage persons on Nevis to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Premier posted the jingle challenge on his Facebook page on March 7, 2021. He said he was inspired to come up with a fun and creative way to spread the positive word about getting vaccinated against the virus.
“So I am inviting persons to post their jingles to my page encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.
The rules of the contest are that competitors must reside on Nevis; jingles must be in English; and competitors must post their jingle and a photo of their vaccination card showing they have taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Those under 18 years old must post their jingle and a photo of at least one of their parents’ or guardians’ vaccination card showing they have taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The jingles can be any genre of music; no profanity is allowed.
The winner will be determined by the most real ‘likes’ generated.
The Premier is offering a cash prize of EC$2,000 for the winner, EC$1,250 for second place, EC$750 for third place and EC$50 for those who enter but do not place.
Mr. Brantley said the contest will run until March 31, 2021 and the winner will be announced on April 02.
“So post your jingle to my page and get all your friends and everyone else to ‘like’ and win some money. Please note that no public funds are being expended for this contest,” he said.
The NIA rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination program on the island on February 24, 2021, beginning with Premier Brantley and other Cabinet members, in addition to senior health officials.
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 1st, 2021 (ZIZ News) On Monday morning the government of India donated twenty thousand doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine to St. Kitts and Nevis.
More in this report.
Members of Cabinet, other government officials and representatives from the health sector were among those in attendance at a reception ceremony at the RLB International airport.
Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and High Commissioner of Inida Dr. K.J. Srinivasa officially received the shipment, accompanied by senior health officials.
Dr. Srinivasa noted that the gifting of the vaccines honoured India’s commitment to help all of humanity.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Harris expressed gratitude to the government of India for their assistance in the fight against the pandemic.
The vaccines were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the largest manufacturer of the Astrazeneca vaccine.
The prime minister also noted that the federation will donate two thousand doses to Grenada to aid in their fight against Covid-19.
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 27, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — St. Kitts and Nevis, which aims at having 70 percent of its population vaccinated against Covid-19, is on track to achieve the milestone with over 600 persons having been vaccinated since Monday February 22 when the vaccine rollout was launched at the New Town Community Centre in Basseterre.
“For the week so far, over 600 persons have gone to get their vaccination,” revealed Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris on Saturday February 27. “Over 600 persons, and ask yourself ‘600 have gone, why not me?’ What are you waiting for? So, I just want to encourage you by and large to be part of the programme and go quickly. The life you will save may very well be your own.”
Prime Minister Harris gave the information at the Ottley’s hardcourts at the end of the popular Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk, which had taken participants from Bellevue to Ottley’s in Constituency Number Seven, where a special session was held sensitise walk participants and members of the general public on the importance of being vaccinated.
“I just want to say that the vaccine is good for you, and that is why the entire government ministers have gone to get the vaccine,” assured Dr Harris. “That is why close to 30 medical doctors, some of them you know, have gone to take this vaccine. Do not be the one that is left out, for when you look at some who are going and some who are yet to go, you have to wonder if people are not noticing.”
Also addressing walk participants and telling them about the were Minister of Health the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Delores Stapleton-Harris, National HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator and Health Educator Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre, medical practitioners Dr Dail Crawford and Dr Leroy Richardson, and District Medical Officer Dr Bernicia Nisbett who is also the Deputy Speaker.
According to Prime Minister Harris, the vaccine is being provided free of cost while it is coming at a very high price. Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean (OECS) countries will on Sunday February 28 receive 125,000 doses of vaccine from India costing EC$700,000 bought through the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). Prime Minister Harris, who is the chairman of the ECCB Monetary Council, had earlier in the week stated that the Federation would receive 41,600 doses of the vaccines, which is in addition to 2,000 doses it had previously received.
“The world is changing rapidly – you now have to carry your negative test to most countries when you are travelling,” reminded the Honourable Prime Minister. “I believe the next step, once you want to travel, you are going to have to show that you have been vaccinated. Do not wait until you find yourself in an emergency to be looking to say you want to get vaccinated.”
Further Prime Minister Harris informed walk participants that a vaccination session was taking place that morning between 9:00 and 11:30 at the New Town Health Centre, where a number of security force officers, from the Prisons, Police, and Fire and Rescue Services were going to get their vaccine. He noted that the government wants the entire country to be vaccinated.
Addressing his constituents, Dr Harris said: “You have in this constituency the opportunity to get vaccinated at the Molineux Health Centre, and you have the opportunity to do so at the Tabernacle Health Centre. At least those are two places, but I am sure if you go to any health centre, you will not be turned back, and we want to increase.”
Inviting persons to join him at the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank 50th Anniversary church service to be held at the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre in Lime Kiln, West Basseterre, on Sunday February 28 at 5:00 pm, Prime Minister Harris ended by saying: “If you can make it, you are invited. Please wear your mask. Until we reach what Dr Crawford called ‘herd immunity’, that is having at least 70 percent of the people in the country vaccinated, you will still need to wear your mask.”
As a further defence, Dr Harris advised persons to continue wearing the masks even when they take vaccines, “because remember, until a certain number has done it, they will put all of us at risk, and that is why you have to be encouraging your friends, your family members so that they will be part of the circle of people you know who are vaccinated. That is why the entire Cabinet has been vaccinated. So when we are sitting down at the table, we know all of us have done what we can to protect ourselves.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 25th, 2021 (ZIZ News) Divisional Commander in charge of District ‘A’ Superintendent Cromwell Henry says he is doing well after being one of the first persons to receive the AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine on Monday.
On this week’s edition of Policing with You, the Superintendent joined host Inspector James Francis and shared his experience, noting that receiving the vaccine was reminiscent of vaccines he has received in the past.
Superintendent Henry said other officers who received the vaccine have experienced minor side effects but have since recovered.
On Monday, 70 persons including government officials and frontline workers received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at a ceremony at the Newtown Community Center.
Policing with You airs every Thursday from 9:15 am on the Morning Show with GCUE.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 22, 2021) – Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, along with the other Cabinet Ministers of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) became the first persons on Nevis to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines on February 24, 2021.
The Premier, Ministers Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Deputy Premier, Hon. Eric Evelyn, Hon. Spencer Brand, Hon. Troy Liburd, Hon. Hazel Brandy Williams, and Cabinet colleagues received their first dose of the vaccine at the Charlestown Health Centre, Nevis.
Mr. Brantley, Senior Minister of Health in the NIA, said his Cabinet is leading by example to demonstrate to the Nevisian public that getting vaccinated against the virus is safe and highly recommended if Nevis is to achieve herd immunity.
“Today is a very historic day for us because the entire Cabinet, led by myself as Premier, and certain healthcare and frontline line workers, we all took the step of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is what we have and we have demonstrated that it is safe and it is the only way to get our people past this COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m delighted that all of our Cabinet colleagues have come out to lead by example and to show the population there is absolutely no risk,” he said.
The Premier continued, “Certainly we look forward to the rest of the population getting vaccinated. We know that nobody is safe until everybody is safe, so we encourage one and all to go out and get vaccinated. Let’s fight this COVID-19 together and keep Nevis and the Federation safe.”
Hon. Hazel Brandy Williams, Minister of Health in the NIA, informed that the jab was quick and virtually painless. She encouraged the populace to make appointments at their nearest health centre to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Several senior health professionals including Dr. Judy Nisbett, Medical Officer of Health in the NIA Ministry of Health and Chair of Nevis’ COVID-19 Task Force, and Chandreka Persaud-Wallace, Matron-designate of the Alexandra Hospital also took their first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday.
The government of St. Kitts and Nevis launched its national vaccination program on Monday, February 22, 2021 from its first batch of two thousand (2000) doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, courtesy of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Wednesday’s vaccinations signaled the roll out of the NIA’s program on Nevis. Frontline workers and at risk persons are among the first wave of persons that will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.
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