As he prepares to receive the second dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Corey Forde is urging Barbadians to do the same if the opportunity arises.
He was vaccinated several weeks ago, the same time as Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Attorney General Dale Marshall, Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic and some other healthcare professionals.
Forde, Barbados’ lone infectious disease specialist and head of isolation facilities, said the only issue he had was a headache the following day. He did not take any medication, went to sleep and it was gone when he woke up.
“I encourage all Barbadians to be vaccinated,” he said during an interview on CBC TV8 on Saturday night.
The staff at Harrison Point in St Lucy was also vaccinated. He held a meeting and was able to allay their fears.
“It is incumbent on us as healthcare providers, as healthcare professionals, as people with knowledge about vaccinations . . . to encourage the general public. If you are in that age that it requires you to take the vaccine, take the vaccine.
“The stage things are at in this country, I am strongly advising you to take the vaccine,” Forde added.
He said there is nothing wrong with being afraid, asking questions or having reservations.
Barbados received 100 000 doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine from the Government of India last Tuesday and some was distributed to other CARICOM nations.
Since then, the Ministry of Health began rolling out its national vaccination programme headed by Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand and Major David Clarke of the Barbados Defence Force.
Dame Sandra Mason, National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, members of Cabinet, many healthcare professionals and university students involved in Operation Seek and Save are among those already vaccinated.
Earlier this week, Clarke said vaccinations would be done on the Table of Precedence and essential workers would also be in the first batch of recipients. (SAT)
