Sands supports usage of COVID-19 vaccine

Elizabeth MP Dr. Duane Sands yesterday endorsed the usage of COVID-19 vaccines in The Bahamas.

“As a matter of fact, it is now believed that if you can get access to any vaccine that you should take it,” said Sands, who served as minister of health until May 2020, while speaking in the House of Assembly.

“Now, the million-dollar question has been will the member of Parliament for Elizabeth  — or let me say it in my other name — will Dr. Duane Sands endorse the use of COVID-19 vaccines? I have thought about this long and hard. I have considered it. I have looked at the data. I have asked the serious questions and the answer is yes, I will endorse the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I believe that as we get further and further out that there will be more available vaccines and if you don’t like the Pfizer or you don’t like the AstraZeneca or you don’t like the Johnson and Johnson that ultimately you can find a vaccine that is good for you.

“But, right now, you have to go with what you can get — not go with the best, go with what you can get.”

He noted that governments may not be able to get any vaccine that they want.

Sands noted that there are only three vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson — approved in the United States.

He said there are “a couple” approved in the United Kingdom and the European Union.

“As of today, and I stand to be corrected, the honorable member for Bamboo Town (Minister of Health Renward Wells) is not in the precincts, I am not aware that we have any vaccine in The Bahamas,” Sands said.

“But, many people are concerned because of all the conspiracy theories that they have heard. Many people have been concerned because they heard the honorable member for Elizabeth express reservations and I will continue to look critically at data.

“I will continue to evaluate every bit of information that we have on these vaccines — good and bad — because I believe people are entitled to education. If nothing else, what we should be doing right now is educating people.” 

The Bahamas is awaiting the arrival of 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which were secured through the COVAX facility.

Last week, Wells said the Ministry of Health could begin its vaccine rollout as early as this week.

He said the first shipment of the vaccine was expected to arrive in-country by the end of last week.

Wells declined to comment when asked for an update on the vaccine arrival yesterday.

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