The Medical Director of the Mount St. John Medical Center, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the Principal Nursing Officer (PNO), the Head of the I.T. Department in the Ministry of Health, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health (P.S.), and the Person On Staff who has responsibility for organizing the services (POSRO) at the four vaccine centers.
The CMO pointed out that the number of infections across the country continues to increase, principally carried by asymptomatic people who spread the virus unknowingly to vulnerable others with whom they interact, without obeying the protocols.
The number of hospitalizations and deaths has risen because the very sick wait until they are deathly ill to seek medical help; very frequently, the very sick also suffer co-morbidities that complicate their Covid-19 treatment. Several illnesses were identified including elevated blood pressure; or, the sick persons may have received other vaccinations recently; or, they may have allergic reactions to certain drugs. The CMO urged those people who are ill to seek out medical attention early, especially if older than 65 years.
The CMO also indicated that “contact tracing” has been strengthened in order to ensure that the probability of infection-spread is decreased. Those who are traced may be asked to isolate or to come to the MSJMC Covid Center for testing. The CMO indicates that every effort is made to get the results (negative or positive) quickly to the contact-traced persons, in order to propose the appropriate treatment. Swabbing is being carried out by 2 teams, in order to increase the number tested daily.
Since vaccination started, 5,400 adults have received the AstraZenica vaccine provided by the Dominican (5,000 doses) and the Indian (40,000) Governments. Four sites—the Villa and Glanvilles Polyclinics, the Multipurpose Center, and the Sir Novelle Richards Academy—are now reporting the daily count of persons vaccinated as high as 600 in one day. The figures have not yet been disaggregated, but those most at risk—the elderly over 65 years—ought to be vaccinated first, the Cabinet agreed.
Hence, going forward from Thursday, March 4, 2021, only those men and women 65 years and older, will be vaccinated. The process of vaccinating those who sought the jab improved significantly today, Wednesday, it was reported by the POSRO; but, limiting the vaccinations to those 65 years and older will improve the daily operation system-wide.
The CMO reported that smaller teams will be vaccinating certain Government workers at their worksite. The Clarevue Hospital, the Hospice Center, the National Solid Waste Authority, the APUA, the FSRC, the ABAA, the ABS Staff, the Teachers, Persons with Disabilities, High Court workers, the Police and other uniformed bodies, H.M. Prison, will receive vaccines on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week.
The list is not exhaustive, the CMO pointed out; workers ought to consult their supervisors and Permanent Secretaries for availability. Hotel workers, Funeral Home workers, and other non-government bodies will also receive their vaccines on the weekend and next week. The situation is very fluid.
