The $20 million loan facility provided to The Bahamas by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will allow this country to have its vaccination execution unit developed and readied within the first quarter of 2021, for when the country receives its vaccines, the bank’s President Mauricio Claver-Carone said yesterday, adding $4.5 million of the $20 million will go directly to the purchase of vaccines.
In a virtual meeting with the local media yesterday, Claver-Carone said the IDB mobilized $1 billion for its member countries in the region to ensure that they are prepared to vaccinate their citizens against COVID-19 and ensure that the distribution is carried out in an equitable fashion.
After the purchase of vaccines, the remainder of the $20 million will support the work of an executing agency that will be created in the first quarter and the development of the infrastructure to support the vaccine’s distribution.
Claver-Carone added that he could not say how many vaccines the country’s $4.5 million could purchase, but explained that vaccine options could vary and are still being worked out through various stakeholders.
“Every day now as the vaccine is approved, countries, including the United States are learning more about what is being required for the appropriate implementation, including storage, transportation, distribution, etc,” said Claver-Carone.
“We’ve already began one program which is a $20 million program, which has a bunch of different components, but it first and foremost is going to facilitate the access to the vaccine.
“But also we’re going create an executing agency for it, that’s going to strengthen the Ministry of Health as well, in order that we can begin the activities the latest by the end of the first quarter next year, to ensure that it doesn’t prolong itself any further, because also we want to make sure that if those needs are met, then The Bahamas can reactivate its economy soon, particularly tourism and therefore once again become active in that regard.
“What we wanted to make sure here is that no time is wasted for the first dosages, so that in the first quarter of 2021 we’re already applying and The Bahamas is effectively responding to the needs of the Bahamian people.”
He said it is important for tourism-dependent countries like The Bahamas to begin vaccinations as soon as possible in order to spur economic activity.
Claver-Carone further explained that the loan has a maturity of 25 years and low interest and financing rates. He added that if The Bahamas requires more money for its vaccination rollout, it could be made available.
“If more is necessary, we will be there ready and willing to help,” he said.
“We want to make sure no time is wasted for those first dosages.”
According to Claver-Carone, the IDB has been working hand-in-hand with government officials in developing the COVID-19 vaccination program.
The post IDB: Bahamas could activate vaccination machinery in first quarter of 2021 appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/idb-bahamas-could-activate-vaccination-machinery-in-first-quarter-of-2021/
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