St Lucia receives 24,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccine from COVAX

Delivery of coronavirus vaccines from the COVAX facility to the Caribbean region continues. St Lucia on Wednesday received 24,000 doses of the vaccine.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet himself attended the arrival ceremony and welcomed the vaccines.

He stated that when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, there was talk about developing vaccines to fight infections, one of the major concerns aired, especially in developing states, was the likelihood of not being able to procure the vaccines in larger quantities.

PM Chastanet stated that international agencies shared these concerns, and COVAX was created with the aim of ensuring global and equitable access to these vaccines.

COVAX is coordinating international resources to enable low-to-middle-income countries equitable access to COVID-19 tests, therapies, and vaccines. More than 165 countries – representing 60% of the human population – have joined COVAX.

"Saint Lucia, along with other countries in the Caribbean region, fortunate to be among more than 90 low- and middle-income countries eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism," added Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.

He stated that the country is thankful to receive over 24,000 doses today through our first batch from COVAX and are equally thankful to PAHO and all the agencies who made this possible.

With assistance from sister nations and India, St Lucia had initiated its vaccine drive. Prime Minister Allen Chastanet was among the first few to receive the vaccine in the country.

St Lucia recorded 4,297 COVID-19 cases while 63 people have lost their lives to the disease in a small island state.

To make medical facilities more accessible, St Lucia is also on the vrge to introduce national health insurance. As per the Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, the first phase of the National Health system will include a package of health services at the primary care level geared at tackling non-communicable diseases.