Jamaica first country to receive COVID-19 vaccines by COVAX facility

Jamaica today received 14,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility, a global effort between the Coalition

Friday, 19th March 2021

Caribbean: Jamaica today received 14,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility, a global effort between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, UNICEF, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Read More: PAHO supports continued use of Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine The arrival is a historic step in ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, in the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of the first delivery phase for Jamaica, and more vaccines are expected to arrive in a row during 2021. According to the first round of COVAX awards, Jamaica is expected to continue doses until May until it is 124,800, the specified amount by COVAX. Read More: NHS warns there will be massive reduction in supply of vaccines PAHO's Revolving Fund, which is responsible for procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the countries of America under the COVAX facility, sent 14,400 doses of the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine, manufactured by SK Bioscience of South Korea. The vaccinations arrived at Kingston International Airport today. "It is very reassuring to see this arrival and it means that more people can be protected against COVID-19," said Dr. Bernadette Theodore-Gandi, representative of PAHO / WHO in Jamaica. "We will continue to work with the country to support vaccination, as well as the whole package of well-known public health and social measures that can help us stop the spread of COVID-19, protect health services and save lives," she added. The advent of these first vaccines will protect the protection of priority groups and those most at risk, such as health workers and older adults. Read More: Medical professionals to be re-licensed every two years in Dominica: Dr... 'We are pleased that Jamaica is the first country in the Caribbean to receive vaccines under the COVAX facility. Vaccination has been an undeniable success in the public health toolkit to reduce the burden of infectious diseases, and vaccinations under the COVAX facility are an important part of our response to this global pandemic. The amount received will be used to vaccinate health workers and other front-line workers, who were at the heart of our COVID-19 response, "said Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton. Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Jamaica, the country has reported 31,305 confirmed cases and 492 deaths due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to official data from the country. Read More: $25 million credit support to Dominica’s COVID-19 response: World Bank "Every dose that arrives in Jamaica offers the promise of protection for more families against COVID-19 infection. Over time, it will end the pandemic and reduce its harmful effects on children. They can return to school, gain access to critical services and reduce their vulnerability to violence," said Mariko Kagoshima, UNICEF's representative in the country. The 15 Caribbean countries that will receive just over 2.1 million doses of COVAX vaccine by May include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Six of these countries (Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) will receive the vaccines free of charge. COVAX aims to provide vaccines for at least 20% of each participating country's population during 2021. In this first round of vaccination, all COVAX participating countries will receive doses to vaccinate between 2.2 and 2.6% of their population. The only exceptions are the developing countries on small islands, which receive a grant of vaccines to cover between 16 and 20% of their population, due to the high logistical costs of delivering small amounts of vaccinations. Until vaccination is widespread among the population, basic public health measures remain the basis of the pandemic response. This means continuing with screening, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, and quality care for public health authorities. And for people, it means continuing with physical distance, hand hygiene, the use of masks, adequate ventilation of indoor environments and the avoidance of crowded spaces. COVAX, the vaccine pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator, is led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) - working in partnership with UNICEF as a major implementation partner, as well as civic organizations, vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank and others. In the United States, the PAHO Revolving Fund is the recognized agency for the COVAX facility.