Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said Government received 5 000 doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines from Guyana today and expects 33 600 through the COVAX Facility soon.
Mottley, who was speaking during a live press conference on the management of COVID-19, said this would allow Government to continue its National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign.
Additionally, Mottley said as of 4 p.m. today, 50 621 people had been vaccinated.
She said vaccines would be returned to Guyana when necessary and the shipment procured through COVAX, the first tranche of which will be 33 600, is expected within the next few weeks and hopefully before the end of April.
Mottley said the 5 000 doses from Guyana and the COVAX shipment would provide 38 600 doses and Government would use this number from its existing supply to continue administering vaccines.
The Prime Minister said there had been a great demand for coronavirus vaccines and Government was in a number of negotiations in an effort to supply vaccines on demand.
She said, however, that it is the “Wild West” with regard to equitable distribution of the vaccines and Government is prepared to purchase those required outside of the COVAX agreement, even though the price would be higher.
Mottley said Government was still negotiating with the African Medical Supplies Platform, in addition to two commercial procurements.
She expressed appreciation that Barbadians consented to be vaccinated and apologised for the wait, which is expected when services are in demand.
“Obviously, there is a great demand for vaccinations because people understand intrinsically that if we are going to turn the corner, the more Barbadians vaccinted the better in terms of being able to achieve herd immunity. . .,” she said. (KG)
