Minister Tufton: 568,615 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Available

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says 568,615 doses of COVID-19 vaccine are available on the island to vaccinate Jamaicans.

In a breakdown, the Minister noted that this includes 390,180 doses of the AstraZeneca brand for first and second doses and 178,435 of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose brand.

Minister Tufton said urged Jamaicans to get vaccinated if they have not done so already or have not gotten their second dose. He added that for persons who would prefer the one-jab vaccine, that is also available. Go to a site that is available, either through the private window or public [sector], to benefit from this,” Dr. Tufton said.

While making the announcement at the virtual COVID Conversations press conference on September 1, the Minister sought to assure Jamaicans that expired vaccines will not be administered, noting that a protocol exists for dumping them. His statement came as roughly 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were scheduled to expire at midnight on Thursday, September 30.

Minister Tufton emphasised that if persons wished to take their jabs on Friday, October 1, need not worry that they are being given a vaccine that is expired, as the vaccines that will be available as of October 1, are from a different batch of vaccines.

Dr. Tufton noted that the expired vaccines are the remainder of the 300,000 United Kingdom (UK)-donated Oxford AstraZeneca brand vaccines, which arrived on the island in July.

“We received the vaccines the end of July with a two-month period for use. Normally, these vaccines would have a six-month shelf life, but we got it four months into its usable shelf life. Our intention was to get take-up all 300,000 doses, and we have gotten up to 240,000,” he pointed out.

He highlighted that the policy is to not administer vaccines that have expired, in keeping with the high standards we have established for the Immunisation Programme. He also note that there was always the possibility that as much of the vaccines given would not have been used up during the period that was given to dispose of the amount.

Dr. Tufton said that the disposal of the expired batch will take place in consultation with the donors. Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton said Jamaica hopes to receive additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine early in October.