Bahamas still lagging behind other countries in COVID vaccination rates

The Bahamas is still lagging behind other countries in the region in COVID-19 vaccination rates.

A Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) situation report, which was released on Monday, notes that out of the 14 CARICOM member states, The Bahamas ranks ninth for the share of people vaccinated against the virus with only 36 percent of people either fully or partly vaccinated.

The only countries that rank lower than The Bahamas are Grenada with 34 percent, Saint Lucia with 28 percent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with 25 percent, Jamaica with 21 percent and Haiti with 0.85 percent.

Of the 26 countries and territories in the region, The Bahamas ranks 20th for the completed schedules of COVID-19 vaccination per 100 persons with 32.3 percent.

Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Haiti rank below The Bahamas.

CARPHA notes that, as of November 12, The Bahamas had administered 262,795 doses of three vaccines — Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

Based on those figures, The Bahamas administered 36.2 doses per 100 persons.

Individuals over the age of 12 are eligible to receive the vaccine in The Bahamas.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville has indicated that the government intends to make vaccines available to young children once it secures pediatric doses of Pfizer.

National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee Deputy Chair Ed Fields has said he is hopeful that 200,000 people can be fully vaccinated by the end of the year. 

Once The Bahamas reaches the 200,000 mark, it would have vaccinated 50 percent of its total population, according to Fields.

He said that would represent 60 percent of the individuals eligible to receive the vaccine.

The national vaccination campaign has been ongoing since March.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamas-still-lagging-behind-other-countries-in-covid-vaccination-rates/