Over 3000 Doses of AstraZeneca Arrive to Combat Virus Swell
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The Bahamas was supplemented with 3,496 doses of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine which arrived on Wednesday evening.
This comes as only a limited supply was available for individuals receiving the second dose of the jab.
The doses were a donation from the British Overseas Territories of Montserrat and Anguilla, with the assistance of United Kingdom High Commissioner Sarah Dickson.
Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, chair of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee and special health adviser to the Prime Minister was on hand to receive the donation at Jet Nassau FBO at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
“The vaccines are a welcome addition to our current vaccine supplies and will be used to continue the administration of second doses.
“We express our deep appreciation to the governments and people of Montserrat and Anguilla and the United Kingdom for this much-needed support.”
Dr. Dahl-Regis also thanked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for helping to coordinate the effort.
The big picture
The country is experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases as vaccine supplies remain limited.
Ninety-five new cases were recorded on Tuesday, increasing the total number of cases in the country to 13,781, with 1264 active cases.
The upsurge in cases has placed a strain on the Princess Margaret Hospital as the country’s premier medical institution said it was implementing new measures “to manage the institution’s already strained services as a result of a surge in COVID-19 cases presenting at the Emergency Department.”
In a press statement, the hospital said, “The new measures are designed to reduce the spread of the virus among patients and staff and to account for an increase in the number of persons having to be admitted.”
Hospital officials said the overwhelming majority of individuals stricken with the virus are unvaccinated individuals.
