Haiti gets 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX facility

Caribbean country Haiti got a donation of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the United States (US) through the COVAX facility yesterday,14th July 2021.

Thursday, 15th July 2021

Haiti: Caribbean country Haiti got a donation of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the United States (US) through the COVAX facility yesterday,14th July 2021. Notably, Haiti is the fourth in the region to receive these donated shipments, after Honduras, El Salvador and Bolivia. Under the COVAX facility, so far, a total of 4,008,000 doses given. The donation is given to the Caribbean island by the US government’s plans to increase coronavirus vaccination coverage in other countries worldwide, counter new waves of infection and prioritize vaccination of healthcare workers and other weak populations in neighbouring countries who need vaccines. Haiti’s Minister of Public Health and Population Dr Marie Gréta Roy Clément. The US government has vowed to donate around 12 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Caribbean and Latin American nations. Haiti's Minister of Public Health and Population - Dr Marie Gréta Roy Clément, on getting the vaccines, asserted, These vaccines, which have obtained WHO- World Health Organization emergency use license, would be administered free of charge to the Haitian population." “In public health, vaccination remains one of the most effective interventions. This first allocation of vaccines puts an end to a long period of waiting not only for the Haitian population but also for the people of the region, who were very concerned that Haiti was the only nation in the Americas that had not yet received the COVID 19 vaccine," Dr Roy added. Since the month of February, the Bahamas government has forbidden travel from Haiti, giving the islands' COVID-19 response among the concerns as a reason. Pan American Health Organization Director - Dr Carissa F Etienne cheered the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in Haiti as quite promising. Dr Etienne asserted that PAHO, along with other partners, is committed to assisting the Haitian people in these unpredictable times. Also , urges other international organizations to join us in supporting the COVID response