February vaccine roll-out

Jamaica is expected to begin administering the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in February, two months ahead of the scheduled April roll-out announced late last year.

The development was revealed late Monday evening by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton.

The health minister is scheduled to address the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, unveiling in greater detail how the vaccination campaign will be conducted.

Jamaica was among dozens of countries and territories that have subscribed to the COVAX Facility - a global pool under the administration of the World Health Organization.

Speaking to The Gleaner, Tufton declined to disclose whether Jamaica would get the 900,000 doses needed to hit the initial target of 16 per cent of the population, around 450,000. Each person should receive a double dose.

Jamaica recorded 15,778 infections and 352 deaths as at Sunday.

“With more than 45 million confirmed cases and more than one million deaths, countries and territories throughout the Americas, particularly the poorest among them, are experiencing an unprecedented health, economic and social crisis,” said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne.

“The start of vaccine delivery through the COVAX mechanism is a hopeful step in the fight against this virus.”