Grenada will this week receive its first allocation of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX arrangement which seeks to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and promote fair and equitable access for countries around the world.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the shipment of 24,000 doses will arrive on Wednesday, April 7th.
Grenada is one of several Caribbean countries that will receive the
AstraZeneca vaccines this week.
The additional vaccines come at a time when Grenada is ramping up its vaccination programme across the country.
In his recent address to the nation, Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, cited vaccination as the key to getting Grenada to the post-COVID chapter.
He said, “Vaccination holds the key to any possible return to life as we knew it. If we fail to get on board, we run the risk of being left behind as the rest of the world goes back to normal.
Some countries are already identifying vaccination as an entry requirement for visitors; some airlines are making vaccination mandatory for travellers and as the cruise industry prepares to set sail again, some cruise lines are already outlining vaccination
requirements for both passengers and crew.”
The Prime Minister who has already received his first dose of the vaccine, encouraged everyone who meets the eligibility criteria to get vaccinated. He said, I urge you to protect yourself, protect your loved ones, protect your neighbours, protect your country.
We are all in this together, therefore we must all work together to safeguard our people, our country, our future.”
To date, more than 10,000 Grenadians have been vaccinated. The uptake is slower than health officials would like, but the Ministry is continuing its education campaign and increasing the number of locations where the vaccine can be obtained.
