Vaccine Hesitancy, A Growing Challenge in Jamaica

The one thousand (1000) target was surpassed at the second vaccination blitz as community leaders mobilized to get more seniors to take their first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine at the weekend.

Going forward the Health Minister says leaders will need to play a crucial role in public education and dispelling conspiracy theories that have left many Jamaicans fearful and reluctant in taking the vaccine.

Come this weekend, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will be expanding its mass vaccination blitz across the island.

As vaccine hesitancy becoming a growing challenge, leaders will be mobilized in communities across the island to encourage more Jamaicans to take the jab.

Local Government Minister Desmond Mckenzie says on Tuesday he will be meeting with councilors and other leaders ahead of the mass vaccination to discuss the plan. On Saturday, five MPs were tasked with getting a hundred senior citizens from their constituency to take the jab.

The Central Kingston Member of Parlimanet, Donovan Williams says there is strong vaccine hesitancy among elderly residents in his constituency.

Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton is urging leaders to commit to getting citizens who are more at risk of contracting the coronavirus, to take the jab. Since the vaccination process started on March 10 to April 1, 2 % of the population have been vaccinated.