Children over the age of 3 can get Sinopharm vaccine: PM Roosevelt Skerrit

Prime Minister of Dominica stated that the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine can be administered in children over the age of 3. He noted that the ministry of health is currently looking at the roll-out.

Prime Minister made these remarks while answering questions of the general public on his weekly Anou Palay show.

He stated that over 14,000 people have received the coronavirus vaccine in Dominica, and the numbers are expected to get bigger. He also advised people to contribute to the country's drive. Prime Minister added that the government aims to innoculate around 70 percent of the population as the vaccine is the only way to achieve the goals of normalcy.

Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine is developed by the Chines pharmaceutical company by the same name. It is being used by total of 57 countries across Asia, Middle-East, Africa.

The wife of the Prime Minister and also a member of parliament from Roseau Central, Mrs. Melissa Skerrit, was the first to receive the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Dominica earlier this month.

She received the vaccine the day when China aided Dominica with 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.

Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit had stated earlier this week that the country aims to vaccine around 900 people per day.

Earlier, Dominica utilized the Oxford Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine, which was received on February 17 from India. Dominica is currently running the largest vaccine drive in modern history per capita basis.

The country has been able to keep coronavirus cases relatively lower. It is among a few countries across the world to record no coronavirus-related deaths. Currently, there are only 15 active cases of the contagious virus, while 147 successfully recovered.

As per the statistics of the health ministry, 12,325 people took the virus-test, and 12,169 resulted negative to the viral disease.

Dominica reopened the tourism sector in August 2020 with strict regulations, all travelers to the country go through an on arrival test, and quarantine is also mandatory. However, travelers can also isolate themselves at government-certified quarantine facilities.