When will we get vaccines?

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party has raised questions about when the country will receive vaccines purchased through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX facility.

At a press conference yesterday, PLP Leader Philip “Brave” Davis said the process leading up to the country’s vaccination programme has been “really mishandled”.

“We are grateful that vaccinations are now being administered,” Mr Davis, who got the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Saturday, said.

“There is still a question as to when the second batch of the vaccinations will arrive. They were not able to tell me when I got my vaccination and they still seem to be scrambling to determine and to access more vaccinations.”

PLP Senator Dr Michael Darville, who got his first jab on Friday, shared a similar concern. He explained his views when reporters brought up Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ comments last week suggesting the possibility of having Independence Day and Junkanoo celebrations held later this year.

The senator responded: “We keep hearing about one date, then a next date, then a next date. We’re beginning to lose confidences on the government to give us definite time when we expect the next vaccine but we are hopeful that with the 20,000 doses that are presently in the country we would be able to administer the first jab and with the help of the Almighty we will be able to get the AstraZeneca vaccine that was purchased by the government through WHO and PAHO but time is not on our side because other Caribbean countries are far ahead of us as it relates to vaccinating our population with the size of The Bahamas, which is just under 400,000.”

Earlier this month, the government received 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine—a gift from India. However the Minnis administration is still awaiting the arrival of the AstraZeneca doses purchased through WHO, some of which are expected to arrive sometime this month. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a two-dose shot, with the second shot to be administered about 12 weeks after the first.

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis told reporters he has no intention of relaxing curfew hours for New Providence at this time as it is not the recommendation of health officials. According to Dr Darville, the government needs to demonstrate the scientific basis for the restrictions.

He stated: “We’ve been looking at the numbers, we see a small spike in Grand Bahama, but we need to have more clarification as (a result) of the science and we’re calling on the government to basically demonstrate and to share this science with the general public so that we can be all on the same accord because we’ve noticed in the past that some of the indications for the curfews were not scientifically based and we were concerned where some business establishments were not open while others were open at the time of curfew.

“We need more clarification and the leader is right in his last press release to call out on the government to please demonstrate to the Bahamian people what is the scientific basis for the lockdowns because of the devastating affects the lockdowns are having on our economy. We need, rather than personal feelings, we need more scientific proof.”

While Dr Darville encouraged PLP supporters and others that it is important to take the vaccine, he highlighted there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding inoculation. He suggested having town hall meetings to alleviate the fears Bahamians may have particularly with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The senator also said the PLP is calling for legislation that moves away from “these draconian” emergency measures and put in more policies they believe would be more effective without affecting civil liberties.

Comments

moncurcool says...

If this dude cared and had so much concern, then he would have waited and been the last and allowed other members of the public to get the vaccine.

I'm sick of this political grandstanding.

Posted 23 March 2021, 4:44 p.m. Suggest removal

tetelestai says...

Come on moncourcool, everything isnt political. Had Brave, or any politician of any note, waited, then we - Bahamians - would questions the efficacy and safety of the virus. We probably would have said: "if the virus is so good then why arent they getting it first", or some nonsense like that.
NO, in this case, politicians did the correct thing by getting the vaccines first.

Posted 24 March 2021, 2:25 p.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Now that you, Chester, Fred, flunkies and wives done get ya jabs you just yuck up enough nerve to enquire bout the rest of us people?
You need to sit ya fat little guinea pig ass in a corner and shut up 🤐

Posted 23 March 2021, 5:20 p.m. Suggest removal

FreeUs242 says...

Everyone in Government need this jab👍👍💯

Posted 23 March 2021, 10:59 p.m. Suggest removal

John says...

Concerns are now being raised in the YS about the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the US. Reports are that a lot of the data on this vaccine is outdated and it is now believed that the effectiveness of this vaccine is below 60% as opposed to the reported 90% effective rate. And this is causing frustration, according to Dr Fauci, as some persons who have taken the vaccine have been given a ‘false sense of hope.’ The US is now leaning towards the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, (an American company) with claims that that vaccine is more effective and more easy to transport and administer.

Posted 24 March 2021, 5:28 a.m. Suggest removal

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