The Ministry of Health and Wellness is expecting a shipment of the Pfizer vaccine within the next two to four weeks. Children 12 years and older and persons who are due their second dose will be prioritized.
The announcement comes a little less than a month after the Government suspended the administration of the Pfizer vaccines. Many, including people due their second doses, are anticipating the arrival of a second shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on the island.
On August 19 the United States donated over 208,000 doses of the vaccine as the first tranche of multiple shipments expected, but that brand of vaccine has been exhausted.
Following weeks of delay, the Ministry of Health has provided a two to four-week timeline for another shipment. This comes as the country has been advised of a shipment through the COVAX Facility. According to the Ministry, the supply from the U.S. has no definite arrival date. Based on the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO), persons can wait up to 12 weeks between doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
In a statement released on Friday, October 8, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor Mckenzie says they had “initially extended the dose interval to 42 days or 6 weeks but now there is a further extension.” She says starting Saturday, October 9, persons will be in the sixth week after the first dose.” She further states that “they will not have to start over the course, as they will have developed some immunity from the first dose.”
The Government recently came under pressure with news surfacing that health centers are still administering Pfizer vaccines. Jamaicans who have taken the first dose of the vaccine are said to have developed some level of immunity.
More in this CVM Live story from Robian Williams:
