Pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccine in Dominica starts on 22 Feb, 2021

Commonwealth of Dominica received 35,000 AstraZeneca Oxford's COVISHIELD vaccine on Tuesday evening, and the country is all set to vaccinate a large number of its population by April 2021. A pre-registration drive will be started at the various health districts of Dominica from the 22nd of February 2021. The country will begin vaccinating its frontline workers, senior citizens, members of the Cabinet and Parliament in the first segment.

There are speculations that half of the country's population will be immunized by April 2021, while the remaining would receive shots later this year.

The vaccination was handed over to Dominica by Indian authorities in a charted flight at Douglas Charles airport on Tuesday evening.

Dominica possessed 70,000 coronavirus vaccination doses as the COVID-19 vaccine is taken in two jabs, making it ample for 35,000 people.

According to statistics by the World Bank, Dominica had a population of 71,808 in 2019.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is expected to arrange doses for 20% of the Dominican population, and the country also anticipates getting 20,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the People's Republic of China. The collective number of vaccination in Dominica might get as many as 60,000 doses.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated during the arrival ceremony of vaccination that during any pandemic, the population of a country is considered on a merit basis, and he is thankful to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for considering Dominica's request.

He noted that he is delighted to have a vaccination for Dominica before many countries in the region and the immunization drive will begin shortly.

As per Dominican authorities, the Health Ministry will conduct an awareness drive in the country before the rollout of the vaccine.

Serum Institute of India is assisting Oxford in the production of its coronavirus vaccination, and the vaccine Dominica received was made in India.

Besides Dominica, neighboring country Barbados has also received vaccination as a gift from India on the same day. Barbados received 100,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.v