Nurse Marcia Thomas Yettman given first COVID vaccine in Jamaica

The first coronavirus vaccine in Jamaica has been given to Marcia Thomas Yettman, a public health nurse.

Thomas Yettman received her first jab at the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston.

She is among a host of frontline workers who are receiving the vaccine today.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, was on hand to witness the event.

On Wednesday, Jamaica received 50,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India.

Last week, the Government announced that it has reached a deal with the African Medical Supply Platform for the delivery of 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, starting next month.

The announcement comes as the Holness administration is under pressure to commence vaccination against the disease that has caused the public-health system to creak under record hospitalisations and infections in February.

Another 14,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine procured under the COVAX Facility will arrive here on March 11 from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The government is seeking to get 3.5 million doses of vaccines which will be used to inoculate 65% of the population.

Health care workers, persons 60 years and older, members of the army, police, firefighters, and members of the Department of Correctional Services and the Jamaica Customs Agency will be among the first groups to get the jab.

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