Bahamas to receive third tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines via COVAX facility

Bahamas: The Prime Minister of the Bahamas - Hubert Minnis, while addressing the nation on 28 July 2021, noted that the Caribbean island would receive the third tranche of pre-paid 33,600 doses AstraZeneca vaccines via the COVAX facility possibly by next week.

The Prime Minister further informed that to help the healthcare staff, soon 49 medical staff along with 111 nurses and nursing support staff would be hired, this whole would cost $7.2 million.

Eighteen new hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, two negative air pressure medical tents would be installed in the Princess Margaret Hospital inventory. These installations would begin on Friday.

Medical tents are being provided by the Samaritan's Purse, an international aid organization. The international organization is also looking at other clinical needs with respect to workforce, supplies and essential equipment.

PM Minnis cited, "Countries would only get out of this COVID-19 pandemic by vaccinating a large percentage of their populations."

Dr Nikkah Forbes, Director of Infectious Diseases, noted that "None of the COVID-19 hospitalized cases at the Princess Margaret Hospital or COVID-19 related deaths have been individuals who been fully vaccinated against the deadly virus."

PM Minnis stated, the Bahamas government is working closely with CARICOM and the US Government for the COVID-19 vaccine donation from the US, and added, "I am in direct communication with the Secretary-General of CARICOM; to assure that the Bahamas receives its vaccine donation without any delay." The Bahamas government is also making a new app to substitute the Hubbcat system to provide a technological solution to monitor the individuals who are not obeying the COVID-19 quarantine and isolation protocols. He further informed that the Bahamas government is also working with the US Embassy in Nassau to obtain equipment and supplies that would be useful in the next period of the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Following the statement, PM Minnis added, "As soon as supplies are available, the Pfizer vaccine would be provided to 12 to 17-year-old, only with the permission of their parents or guardians."

He further informed that the Bahamas' Health Ministry also appointed an experienced epidemiologist to the team on the ground in collaboration with PAHO, the epidemiologist provide much-needed assistance and clinical direction to the surveillance of identified cases as well as identified contacts. PM Minnis has also instructed the Secretary to the Cabinet to command all Permanent Secretaries in order to implement a schedule, shift, or that public servants work from home, if possible. Earlier, the Medical tents were being donated by the US government. PM Minnis also encouraged the citizens to take their jabs of the COVID-19 vaccines in order to beat the contagious virus.