MOHW: House-to-House COVID-19 Vaccination Begins

The Ministry of Health has reported that at least nine health departments across the island have begun house to house vaccination. The Ministry notes that healthcare teams, including public health nurses and community health aides from Hanover, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Westmoreland, St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, and St. Thomas have been deployed to communities across the island to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to shut-ins, disabled and the elderly.

According to Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, the house to house vaccination programme is intended to take vaccines to communities that are not close to a fixed site and to persons who are not able to travel to these sites.

The house-to-house vaccination programme represents another phase in the Government’s national vaccination efforts. The Ministry notes that the initiative aims to maintain the principles of the programme, which includes national equity, ensure access to priority population.

“I want to salute our public health workers who continue to show commitment to the COVID-19 efforts, walking the hills and valleys to reach our most vulnerable citizens,” noted Minister Tufton.

The Ministry reports that there are currently two vaccines in the country; the two-dose AstraZeneca and the single-dose Johnson and Johnson. Up to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, the island had administered a total of 893,696 doses of vaccines. Of that number, 533,967 were first doses, 315,036 were second doses and 44,693 were single doses.

The Ministry continues to encourage Jamaicans to get vaccinated to prevent serious illness, hospitalisation, and/or death associated with COVID-19.