A total of 16,096 Jamaicans have been given their first shots against the coronavirus (COVID-19) in week one of the island’s vaccination programme.
The figure was released by the Health and Wellness Ministry via its social media handles on Wednesday.
The vaccination of the 16,096 persons represented 94 per cent of a target of 17,050 persons whom the ministry had targeted for week one of the vaccination programme from March 10 to 16.
Further, the number of persons vaccinated so far represented 34 per cent of the 47,650 persons being targeted for inoculation in March.
Additionally, the 16,096 persons represented one per cent of the Jamaican population who have now been jabbed with the AstraZeneca drug.
Among those vaccinated in week one were healthcare workers and members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Some elderly persons were also inoculated.
Cabinet members, parliamentarians and heads of Government ministries, departments and agencies who are all over the age of 60 years, were inoculated on Tuesday. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Audley Shaw, was among those inoculated in that group.
In a tweet on Thursday, Shaw stated that it was important for him to be vaccinated as his sister had died from the virus.
“I got my COVID vaccine on Tuesday with my over-60 Cabinet colleagues. My eldest sister passed from COVID, so the importance of getting the vaccine is significant for me. I’m feeling great. It is vital that you get the shot when it is your turn,” Shaw tweeted.
“The life you save could be your own,” he added.
Week one of the vaccination programme started on Wednesday, March 10, two days after the island received a gift of 50,000 vaccines from India.
On Monday, 14,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were received through the COVAX Facility.
A total of 1,924,759 persons are expected to be vaccinated nationally by March of next year.
