(By Ernesto Cooke) – Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is urging Vincentians once again to take the vaccine in an effort to protect themselves against the severity of COVID-19.
Gonsalves speaking on the radio today, said that he does not want St Vincent to be left behind as other Caribbean countries are surging ahead with inoculation of their population.
He said front-line workers should get tested regularly along with public servants and other none state workers, bus drivers and conductors if they are not taking the vaccine.
“Certainly, if you are not taking the vaccine, you will have to be tested regularly”, Gonsalves said.
Gonsalves stated that persons should not hesitate in taking the vaccine as the Indian government is halting exports due to surges of COVID-19 in the country.
India has placed a temporary hold on all the Oxford-Astra Zeneca coronavirus vaccine exports, the foreign ministry said.
The move – described as a “temporary squeeze” by officials – is expected to affect supplies until the end of April.
Some 190 countries under the COVAX scheme, including SVG, are likely to be affected.
Gonsalves said persons are making a mistake in telling people not to take the vaccine; he says the science speaks to the vaccine’s safety.
So far, just over 10,000 Vincentians have taken their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
