Carib’n country asks for BVI’s unwanted COVID vaccines
Amid widespread refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccines that have been given to the BVI, the government will consider giving it to a neighbouring Caribbean country that has asked for the territory’s unwanted jabs.
The BVI government had announced that it is willing to return unwanted vaccines to the UK and Dominica so they can be given to persons who need the jabs in those countries.
The government said it would rather return the vaccines to the originating countries than have them expire in the BVI.
But speaking in the House of Assembly on April 22, Health Minister Carvin Malone said the government may consider giving some vaccines to a Caribbean country that has asked for them.
“We have one of the islands to our west that has called me and said, ‘whatever vaccines you have that the people don’t want, don’t send them back to the UK, send them to us because our hospitals are overwhelmed, our people are dying so send it to us’,” Minister Malone explained.
He added: “I asked the Governor to look into what portion of it we can offer our brothers and sisters if we are forced to look at the prospect of returning [vaccines].”
Minister Malone didn’t name the country that asked for the unwanted vaccines. But Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti are all neighbours west of the BVI.
The Health Minister also reminded the public and leaders that the global supply of COVID vaccines is dwindling as cases continue to surge worldwide.
The government said it would rather return the vaccines to the originating countries than have them expire in the BVI.
But speaking in the House of Assembly on April 22, Health Minister Carvin Malone said the government may consider giving some vaccines to a Caribbean country that has asked for them.
“We have one of the islands to our west that has called me and said, ‘whatever vaccines you have that the people don’t want, don’t send them back to the UK, send them to us because our hospitals are overwhelmed, our people are dying so send it to us’,” Minister Malone explained.
He added: “I asked the Governor to look into what portion of it we can offer our brothers and sisters if we are forced to look at the prospect of returning [vaccines].”
Minister Malone didn’t name the country that asked for the unwanted vaccines. But Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti are all neighbours west of the BVI.
The Health Minister also reminded the public and leaders that the global supply of COVID vaccines is dwindling as cases continue to surge worldwide.
