THE third batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility has been delayed until next month, Health Minister Renward Wells said Friday.

Speaking during a press conference, Mr Wells said the Bahamas will now receive the remaining 33,600 doses of the vaccines in early August.

They were expected to arrive next week.

The news comes amid low vaccine supply in the country, with only second shots being administered to Bahamians and residents at this time.

According to the health minister, 101,466 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in the country as of July 18.

There are 41,106 people fully vaccinated against the virus, while 60,360 people have been given their first shots.
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Minister of Health Renward Wells.

On Friday, Mr Wells said the government continues to engage in discussions with its Caribbean counterparts to shore up its vaccine supplies.

“We are in discussion with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) about additional vaccines,” he said. “This includes Johnson & Johnson vaccines from the African Medical Supplies Platform and an allocation of Pfizer vaccines from the United States to CARICOM countries, including The Bahamas. We are also expecting to receive the Pfizer vaccines allocated through the COVAX facility. All of these vaccines are expected to begin arriving in-country as early as August with subsequent shipments to be received through to the end of the year.”

However, the delay comes at a time when COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations are surging once again in the country.

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