COVID-19 vaccines to arrive in Jamaica mid-February

The Government of Jamaica is set to receive COVID-19 vaccines earlier than the April date, which was previously announced.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said Jamaica will receive approximately 140,000 doses of vaccines from COVAX and up to 249,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccines by mid-February.

Tufton made the announcement during Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives.

“This means that some 125 thousand Jamaicans could receive the vaccine in the latter part of February into March,” Tufton stated.

The COVAX Facility is designed to accelerate equitable access by countries globally to safe COVID-19 vaccines.

Jamaica is among six Caribbean Public Health Agency members which have been provided with the full down payment required for the COVAX facility.

The minister had previously announced that 292,399 doses of the vaccines, which is enough for five per cent of the population, would be delivered in April.

Healthcare workers, members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, members of the Jamaica Defense Force, correctional officers, custom immigration officers, parliamentarians, persons in infirmaries and the elderly are at the top of the list to receive the jabs first.

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