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Last Updated: Feb 3, 2021 - 5:27:32 PM |
 DNA on AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine
The government has announced that COVAX has procured 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID vaccine for The Bahamas. This vaccine requires a two-dose regimen with each being given 4 weeks apart; this means that 50,000 people can receive this supply. According to reports, this vaccine is between 60% and 75% effective in preventing disease.
We note that this vaccine was approved in the UK in December 2020, approved in the EU in January 2021 and has not been approved in the US. Switzerland has delayed approval of the vaccine, while Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Austria and France have cautioned against using the vaccine for people aged 65 and over. It is unfortunate that having initially confirmed via a press statement yesterday that the vaccine had received Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the WHO, the government in a subsequent statement issued today has stated that this authorization (that EUL) remains outstanding.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) awaits the government’s position on the administration of this vaccine in light of the position taken by other countries in the interest of public health and safety. We also wait to see the government’s comprehensive and logistical plan to vaccinate 50,000 people; including specific timelines and milestones. We expect that the government will present a priority chart which outlines administration to the most vulnerable groups like persons in different aged groups, frontline workers and persons with chronic illnesses.
As public concern about the safety and efficacy of this vaccine is high, public educational campaigns should commence urgently. Stakeholders should be intimately involved in this process from the onset. The government’s response to the current economic and health crises will determine the speed of our recovery as a nation.
On a final note, we call on the government to respect our healthcare professionals and pay our nurses what is due to them. The DNA remains available to collaborate with the government and will continue to offer our input for the best possible outcomes.
Arinthia S. Komolafe
Leader
Democratic National Alliance
© Copyright 2021 by thebahamasweekly.com
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