Friday, May 8, 2026

April vaccine now in doubt

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Former Chairman of CARICOM Dr Ralph Gonsalves says that the plan to have vaccines in the region by April, through the COVAX facility, may not be as assured as originally thought.

The St Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister told the Saturday Sun yesterday that given the “mad rush” by larger countries, the delivery of the promised first tranche of vaccines to the region might come in “drips and drabs” throughout the year.

This tranche will also include the amount guaranteed to secure 20 per cent of Barbados’ population.

“Even under the COVAX system, where it is said that we would get 20 per cent of the vaccines, that may not be available to us by the end of the year. It might come to us in drips and drabs. What persons say on paper and what happens in reality are two different things. You may get the 20 per cent, but it may roll out over the whole year, if we are lucky,” said Gonsalves. (CLM)

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