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The Bahamas is expected to receive the promised vaccine paid for by the government in December of last year.

In a statement released by the National COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee, 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine obtained through the COVAX Facility will arrive in the country this week.

Why it matters

The government said it was expected to receive 33,600 doses out of 100,800 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine purchased through the World Health Organisation’s/Pan American Health Organisation’s COVAX facility before the end of March.

The remaining 64,200 doses are expected to be in the country by the end of May.

The big picture

In November, Health Minister Renward Wells said the government had put a down payment down of $250,000 so far to source a vaccine from PAHO. But had committed $2 million to vaccinate 20 percent of the country’s population.

Worth noting

The batch represents the first tranche of a total of 100,800 doses earmarked for The Bahamas and pre-paid through the PAHO Revolving Fund.

The Bahamas received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines on 10 March, which included 20,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the Government of India to the people of The Bahamas.

Since the COVID-19 vaccination program began on 14 March, more than 7,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The highest number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered on a single day totaled more than 1,000.

To date, 63 percent of those who have received the vaccine are over the age of 60. Others include healthcare workers and staff of the uniformed branches. Forty-two percent of persons who received the vaccine were male and 58 percent, female.

As the world fights to develop and mass-produce an effective vaccine against the coronavirus, the Bahamas is seeking to secure enough vaccine to help fight the virus in the country.

Like many governments around the world, the Bahamas’ government is hoping the vaccine will assist in returning daily life to normalcy.

What is the status of the COVID-19 vaccine for the Bahamas?

Health Minister Renward Wells announced that the Cabinet of the Bahamas has approved vaccination for 20 percent of the population through the World Health Organisation via the Pan American Health Organisation.

Wells said the Bahamas will make a down payment of $2 million to ensure 80,000 people including front line workers and the country’s most vulnerable, are vaccinated.

The country is expected to receive the vaccines in the first phase of the distribution, he said.

Wells said all countries are required to make a down payment on the vaccines.

How does a vaccine work?

According to the WHO, vaccines save millions of lives each year, and work to prepare the immune system to recognize and fight off the virus.

If the body is exposed to the virus, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness, the WHO says.

Vaccines have been used to prevent numerous life-threatening diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.

WHO says currently there are over 169 COVID-19 vaccine candidates under development, with 26 of these in the human trial phase.

The health organization says it is working with scientists, business, and global health organizations to speed up the pandemic response.

When a safe and effective vaccine is found, WHO says it will facilitate the equitable access and distribution of these vaccines to protect people in all countries. People most at risk will be prioritized.