Vaccination vital for achieving herd immunity from infectious diseases

Herd immunity refers to resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population-based on the existing immunity of a large percentage of individuals due to previous infection or vaccination.

Thursday, 25th February 2021

Dr Timothy Harris Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts and Nevis: Herd immunity refers to resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population-based on the existing immunity of a large percentage of individuals due to previous infection or vaccination. In the case of COVID-19, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said that, based on health experts' research, the vaccination of a large portion of St. Kitts and Nevis's population could help achieve herd immunity. "When we vaccinate enough of our population, we achieve our goal of achieving what the medical fraternity calls herd immunity or what is sometimes called population immunity," Prime Minister Harris said on Tuesday (February 23). Leadership Matters' said. a virtual forum. "It is the indirect protection against a contagious disease that occurs when a population is immune through vaccination or from previous infections." Prime Minister Harris said it could be achieved once the Federation achieved its vaccination goal based on scientific research. He noted that "in the case of Coronavirus disease, the scientific community has estimated that herd immunity occurs when between 70-90 percent of the population receives vaccinations." PM Harris continues to encourage everyone in society to play their part in helping the Federation achieve herd immunity by being vaccinated. 'It is therefore imperative that we in St. Kitts and Nevis and the region achieved this goal. No one should be left behind. "Everyone should be interested in protecting him or her from the dangerous consequences of COVID-19," said Dr. Harris said. He noted that persons the health centers Newtown, Basseterre, Sandy Point, and Tabernacle in St. Kitts and the Charlestown, Gingerland, and Combermere Health Centers in Nevis could visit to make an appointment to be vaccinated. Nation Vaccination Programme will rely on good governance Following the successful launch of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program on 22 February 2021, dr. Delores Stapleton Harris, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that the full and effective implementation of the plan would depend on a good management structure, given the range of responsibilities, staff and responsiveness that will be required when the program starts. "In fact, we realize the need to complement and support existing structures for the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program," she said on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, in the television program 'Leadership Matters.' Dr. Stapleton Harris added that a vaccination program in the public health system reduces diseases and deaths due to infectious diseases at the population level. The National Immunization Program of St. Kitts and Nevis aims to provide the residents with the safe, effective, and efficient administration of all necessary vaccines indicating that they are prepared to receive them. "The COVID-19 vaccine will therefore be administered as part of this existing system," she said. "It is also noteworthy that the Ministry of Health makes policy decisions based on the National Immunization Committee's advice, which is then implemented through community health services through the health centers in the Federation." Therefore, the Permanent Secretary said the National Immunization Committee has the task of supporting the Ministry of Health and the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) to deliver an effective vaccination program COVID-19 that complies with best practice and good governance. "It is also responsible for managing the vaccination, storing and distributing vaccines under valid call conditions, immunization training, and providing communication material about the vaccine to the public," she said. Dr Stapleton Harris noted that the strategy joins the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on implementing the vaccine program. The Ministry of Health and the epidemiologist's office will also play an important role, she said. "The epidemiological unit will collect, analyze and disclose the vaccination data during the implementation of our vaccination program in the Federation, and now contact our local partners such as CARPHA and PAHO, and the findings will eventually provide further planning and policy development," he said. The permanent secretary. Dr Stapleton Harris states that the Ministry intends to implement a comprehensive, robust communication strategy to lead the education campaign to inform the public and generate the vaccine's expected demand. "You would have noticed that such a campaign started with the use of traditional and digital media to spread the relevant content," she said. "Key stakeholders will be involved to ensure success and in line with a whole-community approach followed at the outset of the response."