vaccines

The Johnson &Johnson vaccine has come under scrutiny in the United States and the Center for Disease Control recommends that other vaccines be used after experts cited evidence of a rare blood clot in the brain that resulted in deaths in the past year.

The big picture

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has been advertised as a one-shot vaccine in the fight against COVID-19. However, it remains the least popular vaccine around the world as most people prefer Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca vaccines due to safety concerns.

Nonetheless, millions of people have been vaccinated with the J&J vaccine.

In recent days, before CDC’s recommendation, it was suggested that a booster shot of the J&J booster be given to improve protection for people who had received the Pfizer or Moderna shot.

CDC is depending on data that showed nine people died as a result of the J&J shot and 54 people hospitalized. The bloodclotting risk seems greater among women between the ages 30 and 49 years old — an estimated 1 in 100,000 who had received the shot.

Symptoms occurred nine days after vaccination in the affected cases.

Why it matters

More than 150,000 people have been vaccinated in the Bahamas, which includes people who have received the J&J shot. It has been pushed in the country’s vaccination campaign and even more so as the Omicron variant raises alarm in the UK and the USA.

Driving Force

CDC stopped short of halting the use of the vaccine as blood clotting cases are rare. The health board prefers that people use other vaccines first and the vaccine be used as an option for people who are “unable or unwilling” to receive the other vaccines.

Health officials in South Africa said no one has been negatively affected by the J&J vaccine.

It remains to be seen what stance the Bahamian government will take.

A shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in the Bahamas on Thursday morning, in preparation for its early distribution next week.

128,700 doses were donated by the US government to assist the Bahamas in its vaccination drive.

This first batch of vaccines is part of the 397,000 doses donated by the US government and is a part of nearly 837,000 doses delivered to Caribbean countries.

The Bahamas is among the first Caribbean countries to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said the batch will help to vaccinate half of the population and meet the demands that exist.

He pleaded with Bahamians to get vaccinated.

“You do not have any time to wait any longer. You do not have time to keep thinking about it. The hospital is filled to its limit. Sadly some people are dying.

“Taking shots will save your life.”

The limited supply of vaccines in the country has forced health officials to narrow down inoculation to Bahamian citizens and permanent residents 18 years of age and over, and residents in the previously stated priority groups only.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement on Monday evening saying that health officials are awaiting the arrival of more vaccines in the country before the end of May so that all residents will be eligible to receive the jab.

The previously stated priority groups are:

• Healthcare workers
• Persons 50 years of age and older
• Persons with disabilities
• Uniformed branches (RBDF, RBPF, COVID Ambassadors, BDOCS, Customs and Immigration)
• Teachers and staff of schools
• Hospitality workers (hotel and resort employees, public transportation workers, Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), Nassau Airport Development (NAD)Co., Nassau Cruise Port (NCP), straw market, port, and beach vendors, and tour operators
• Restaurant and retail workers
• Students and athletes studying or competing abroad, coaches, and other support
• Home-bound physically disabled residents
• Members of the clergy; and
• Accredited media (editors, reporters/anchors, photographers, and videographers).

Proof of citizenship, permanent residency status or a work ID will be required at the vaccination site. Failure to present the requested ID will result in appointment cancellation..

Persons who have already received a first dose of the vaccine will be eligible to receive the second dose which is scheduled to begin on May 10.

Members of Parliament returned to the House of Assembly today to debate the extension of the Emergency Order to May 23.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, in his contribution, made the case for the extension, while addressing a few other concerns in regard to CDC’s removal of the Bahamas from its level 4 travel advisory, the continuation of the unemployment benefits, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

What to know

-The Bahamas will move to a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, from the more serious Level 4 after a reassessment by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

-NIB’s Unemployment Benefit will be extended again to February to provide the necessary financial support to families still suffering from the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.

-Plans are on-going to ensure the effective roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the country, to ensure the citizens and residents who choose to take the COVID-19 vaccine can do so safely and quickly.

-Vaccines approved for use in the Bahamas have met the strict and rigorous standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).

-The vaccine will not be mandatory and will be available free of charge for adults who choose to take it. So far, approved vaccines will only be administered to adults.

-The Bahamas has secured doses to vaccinate 20 percent of the population once it becomes available through the COVAX Facility assisted by WHO and PAHO.

-Additional approved vaccines may also be accessible through the African Medical Supplies Platform (ASMP) via CARICOM, and through direct contact with approved vaccine providers.

-The government is still in the process of determining which vaccines will be used and the specific date in which they will arrive in the country.

-Working arrangements for public officers are under review for the orderly and safe return to the workplace as early as February 1st. Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department will communicate with employees.

As countries around the world clamor for access to vaccines for their population, Belgium’s budget state secretary, Eva De Bleeker, used Twitter to post a price list of the leading vaccines. But she quickly deleted the post before it was screen-shot and shared.

Why it matters

The price of COVID19 vaccines is considered a “commercial secret.” In fact, Pfizer complained that the Belgian minister violated its confidentiality. The company said, “These prices are covered by a confidentiality clause in the contract with the European Commission,” said Elisabeth Schraepen, the US drugmaker’s spokeswoman for the Benelux region to the Belgian daily Le Soir.

Driving the news

The price list shows that Moderna is the most expensive of the leading six vaccinations, while Oxford/AstraZeneca is the least expensive. Other countries can now negotiate a better deal with the pharmaceutical companies since the release of these details.

This is the list of what the EU is paying, that was shared via Twitter:

• Oxford/AstraZeneca: €1.78 (£1.61)= $2.36 ($2.14)
• Johnson & Johnson: $8.50 (£6.30)= $11.28 ($8.36)
• Sanofi/GSK: €7.56 = $10.03
• Pfizer/BioNTech: €12= $15.92
• CureVac: €10=$13.27
• Moderna: $18= $23.88

Worth noting

Nearly three weeks ago, Minister of Health Renward Wells expressed a preference for the Oxford and Moderna vaccines. However, he said if the country is able to access the Pfizer vaccine first, then “we’ll go with that.”

Wells revealed to the Nassau Guardian that the price of the Oxford vaccine will cost about £2, which equates to $4 per dose.

“I think the one through the COVAX facility is about $15 per dose,” Wells said.