Health Minister receives COVID jab, encourages Jamaicans to get vaccinated

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine this afternoon.

"I am happy that my time has come to take the vaccine. I am happy that many Jamaicans are getting the same opportunity. I want to encourage all Jamaicans to take the vaccine. As a part of the COVID-19 response, we have taken the decision around choice of vaccine which are WHO approved." Tufton said shortly after getting his dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

On March 8, Jamaica received its first 50,000 doses of vaccines, donated by the Government of India and on Monday, received 14,400 doses under the COVAX facility.

The administering of vaccines began on March 10, exactly one year after the first case of the virus was confirmed in the island.

The Government has indicated that more than 17,000 persons have so far been vaccinated.

Acknowledging that there is no guarantee that taking the vaccination publicly will boost public confidence, Tufton said that he’s hopeful that more persons will be inspired to become inoculated. 

He is expected to get his second dose of the vaccine in another eight weeks.

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