ALL people 18 and older in The Bahamas are eligible, starting today, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee announced yesterday.
Those who have received their first dose, meanwhile, can expect to be alerted via email within the next two weeks about when they should book their second appointment. The issuance of the second doses will begin on Monday, May 10.
To date, 25,692 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered on New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Abaco, the government said in a statement.
The vaccines will be rolled out today in Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Andros; tomorrow in Exuma, Cat Island, San Salvador and the Berry Islands; Wednesday in Long Island and Rum Cay; and Friday in Bimini.
“To make an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine please visit vax.gov.bs. To view the full Family Island schedule, including vaccination site locations and times, visit opm.gov.bs,” the government said.
“On-site appointments are available at the Church of God of Prophecy, East St and St Anselm’s Catholic Church Hall, Bernard Road on New Providence; the Susan J Wallace Community Centre on Grand Bahama and at all Family Island vaccination sites.
“A Bahamas government issued ID is required at check-in at the vaccination site.”
The expansion of vaccine accessibility comes as the country experiences an uptick in COVID-19 cases, and as evidence mounts around the world about the privileges fully vaccinated people will enjoy.
The head of the European Union said yesterday that fully vaccinated American tourists will be able to visit Europe this summer after more than a year in which nonessential travel has been shut down.
Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis announced last week that fully vaccinated people can travel to The Bahamas without a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test come May 1, while travellers within the country will also be exempt from test requirements when travelling to and from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and Eleuthera.
“Once individuals are fully vaccinated,” he said, “individuals can participate in a closed environment, once all within that closed environment are fully vaccinated. The mask would not be necessary and they can participate within that environment.
“That means indoor dining can resume for those individuals who are completely vaccinated. It also means from a cultural perspective that those like myself who participate in Junkanoo, once we are all vaccinated, we can work within the Junkanoo shacks among us all vaccinated individuals.
“This is important because it allows within an enclosed restaurant or wedding facility, once all are vaccinated, it also means that the cultural events that we had yesterday where individuals in restaurants and weddings would have Junkanoo rushing through the environment, that can occur once all, including the Junkanooers, are vaccinated and therefore we can commence some form of normal life,” Dr Minnis said.
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