Minister of Health, the Hon. Renward Wells says government is in the process of following a very defined, laid out plan as to how we get control of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country.
That plan, although not limited to, involves almost exclusively, encouraging as many residents as possible to be inoculated with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.
Minister Wells, says the government is awaiting the receipt of 34 thousand more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, for a total of 120 thousand doses in country.
“To my people whom I love so dearly, we know what the solution is for what ails us, and how we get out of where we are now, and that is to go and get vaccinated” he said.
As for the possibility of residents accessing other vaccines, Minister Wells says it is not for the government’s lack of trying.
“I saw the president of the United States saying, how they are going to seek to assist other countries; and so we are looking and talking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, both he and I are reaching out, to see how we can source all other available vaccines for the Bahamian people” Minister Wells added.
And many are asking if the Bahamas, like some other countries, would fully vaccinated residents be given the option of not wearing masks.
“When the country gets vaccinated and individuals are vaccinated, I think that the people can see, that this government is willing to move in a positive direction.
“For those folks who are responsive in that regard. Look at what we’ve said for travel for fully vaccinated persons, so I think we’ve already signaled and intimated, what we intend to do” Minister Wells said.
Presently, contact tracing is underway in Andros and the Berry Islands where health officials have seen an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“The Ministry of Health has sent the requisite teams down to see where we are to assess the circumstance in regard to vaccination in those areas.
“It is a very fluid circumstance and situation, the government will come back with other determinations, but right now, getting vaccinated, adhering to the health protocols that are in place, will help us to get our hands around what is happening in those beautiful islands of Andros and the Berry Islands” Minister Wells said.
