Vaccine Hesitancy Poses Threat to 2022 Target

As vaccine hesitancy continues to hamper the Government’s effort to inoculate 1.9 million citizens by March 2022. Another 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are set to expire a month apart; 268, 280 doses will expire on October 31, followed by 100, 800 doses on November 30.

This was disclosed by Director of Family Health Services, Dr. Melody Ennis, during the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), on Wednesday. However, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie, says approximately 170, 000 citizens are now due their second jab of AstraZeneca.

But vaccine take-up remains low, as up to Wednesday, October 6, a little over 291,000 people or 10.3 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and over 510,000 had received the first dose.

Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Dunstan Bryan says vaccine hesitancy continues to pose a challenge. He told PAAC on Wednesday, that it will take all hands on deck to meet the March 2022 target of vaccinating 1.9 million citizens.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bisasor Mckenzie on Wednesday, responded to the question of whether persons could take their second dose a few days before their appointment.

More in this CVM Live story from Aladden Love: