People to have more choice as Antigua and Barbuda aims to procure Moderna vaccine

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stated that the country is expecting Moderna COVID-19 vaccines doses from World Health Organizations' COVAX facility.

During his conversation with a local radio station, Browne stated that with the arrival of 10,000 doses of Moderna Vaccine, people will have a vast amount of choice of coronavirus vaccines in Antigua and Barbuda.

He said many people have their own choices, and the government aims to bring a selection of vaccines to get the immunization rates up because only 53% are fully vaccinated.

Currently, Antigua and Barbuda have Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Astrazeneca and also the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. With the presence of Moderna, the country will have almost all WHO-approved vaccines available in its inventory.

He said the consignment would arrive "soon", without clarifying any particular date. So far, only 52,689 people are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, while around 58,497 received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine.

The country has successfully administered around 100,000 doses of different coronavirus vaccines, and vaccines have been indirectly made mandatory at certain places. For instance, as per the new guidelines, no unvaccinated student or school staff can enter secondary schools in Antigua and Barbuda. The decision came last week as the country reopened its face to face classes for students.