Jamaica to receive COVID-19 – AstraZeneca vaccines by mid to late February – The timeline for deployment of vaccines in Jamaica has been cut short, as the country is now set to receive over two hundred and forty-nine thousand (249,000) doses of the AstraZeneca Vaccines by mid to late February 2021.
This means that one hundred and twenty-five thousand (125,000) Jamaicans could receive vaccines by the end of February into the month of March- a move that is being endorsed by the opposition, People’s National Party (PNP).
The initial date for the country to receive COVID-19 vaccines was April. The Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Honorable Christopher Tufton, made the revelation on February 2, in the nation’s Parliament.
But before the island receives its first shipment of vaccines, there are several steps to be taken, such as having the necessary indemnity and liability frameworks in place in order to complete the agreement directly with AstraZeneca.
Dr. Tufton sought to explain the reason behind the country agreeing to an indemnity and liability framework.
He explains that because the vaccine received emergency approval, countries have been asked to indemnify the manufacturer of the vaccines. He maintains that the government is not taking any unnecessary risks with vaccines
Additionally, the government made a request for vaccines through The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and has shown interest in obtaining information on vaccines from China and Cuba.
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