‘Don’t delay your COVID-19 vaccination’
Sept. 24, 2021
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Friday, September 24, 2021: The Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging Jamaicans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with the vaccines currently available to them, notably the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The appeal comes as the next shipment of the Pfizer vaccines, due shortly to arrive on the island, will be given only to children 12 years and older and to those persons who are due their second dose.
At the same time, hospitalisations remain high while the number of infections and deaths continue to rise. In the last 24 hours, some 989 persons were in hospital, 663 of that number confirmed positives and 326 suspected.
Also in the last day, the island recorded 434 new COVID-19 infections and confirmed 12 deaths. The total number of infections since the first case was discovered last year now stands at 81,828 while the death toll has moved to 1,821.
“Don’t delay your vaccination against COVID-19. The best vaccine is the one that you have available,” said Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
“In order to prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and death associated with COVID-19, it is critical that Jamaicans seize the first opportunity to get vaccinated. We currently have in stock the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, I am appealing to Jamaicans to take them,” added Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie.
Up to 9:30 am today, the island had administered some 715,860 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Of that number, 495,138 were first doses; 197,024 were second doses and 23,698 were single doses.
To register to become vaccinated, members of the public are encouraged to make their appointments online at https://www.moh.gov.jm or call the Vaccination Call Centre at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683).
Once persons have received their appointment confirmation, they are to visit their vaccination site on time and with their government-issued identification or letter from a justice of the peace. For those who have already had their first dose of a two-dose vaccine, they should also take along their vaccination cards.
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