Photo: Courtesy of twenty20photos 

Jamaica's COVID-19 Vaccinations Go Door to Door

The COVID-19 vaccine is now offered as an in-home service in Jamaica. As of October 24, 2021, at least nine health centers across Jamaica have begun house-to-house vaccinations, deploying healthcare teams from Hanover, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Westmoreland, St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland, and St. Thomas (thecaribbeannewsnow.com). Public health nurses and community health aides are going house to house in the communities to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to shut-ins, the disabled, and the elderly (thecaribbeannewsnow.com). 

According to Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, the program is also designed to reach those in remote areas. "This house-to-house vaccination program is intended to take vaccines to communities that are not close to a fixed site and to persons who are not able to travel to these sites" (thecaribbeannewsnow.com). Tufton goes on to compliment health-care teams, "I want to salute our public health workers who continue to show commitment to the COVID efforts, walking the hills and valleys to reach our most vulnerable citizens" (thecaribbeannewsnow.com). 

The government of Jamaica continues to encourage citizens and residents to get vaccinated to help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and/or death associated with COVID-19. As of October 24, Jamaica has administered a total of 849,003 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine--315,036 of which have completed the two prescribed doses. Meanwhile, 44,693 doses of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine have been given (thecaribbeannewsnow.com).  

One hundred and forty-five thousand doses of Pfizer vaccines are expected to arrive in the country by October 31, 2021. Just over 45,600 of those are a donation from Suriname, with the remainder sourced through the government's paid arrangement with the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility. 

As of October 27, 2021, 88,666 infections and 2,199 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Jamaica since the pandemic began (graphics.reuters.com). The average number of new infections reported each day in Jamaica has fallen by more than 120 over the last 3 weeks and is now 124 new infections reported on average each day, 18% of its previous peak (graphics.reuters.com). 

Sources: 

graphics.reuters.com 

thecaribbeannewsnow.com