Former Premier joins urgent calls for public vaccination
With only days left before residents lose their opportunity to get vaccinated, medical doctor and former Premier, Dr D Orlando Smith has joined the government in encouraging public vaccination against the COVID-19 virus.
There is still widespread vaccine hesitancy in the BVI. This is evidenced by the fact that the BVI has an overall capacity to vaccinate 17,000 persons but only 12,500-plus persons have taken a jab to date.
Dr Smith said those who have not taken the vaccine are putting themselves and the territory at risk.
“This is a risk that no one should take knowing how serious getting COVID can be! And I must say that the individual benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs the risk of having a severe side effect,” Dr Smith stated.
“The benefit to the territory is obvious. It has been shown that countries and states within countries which have high rates of vaccination have significantly lower rates of infection. So let’s do the right thing to protect ourselves, the population of the BVI and our visitors from COVID. Let us all get vaccinated,” said the medical doctor and former Premier who added that he has already taken both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The current stocks of vaccines available in the territory are set to expire by July 31, 2021.
This means that in order to effectively use the vaccines in stock, persons still expected to receive their first dose can do so no later than July 3, Health Minister Carvin Malone previously said.
Dr Smith said those who have not taken the vaccine are putting themselves and the territory at risk.
“This is a risk that no one should take knowing how serious getting COVID can be! And I must say that the individual benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs the risk of having a severe side effect,” Dr Smith stated.
“The benefit to the territory is obvious. It has been shown that countries and states within countries which have high rates of vaccination have significantly lower rates of infection. So let’s do the right thing to protect ourselves, the population of the BVI and our visitors from COVID. Let us all get vaccinated,” said the medical doctor and former Premier who added that he has already taken both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The current stocks of vaccines available in the territory are set to expire by July 31, 2021.
This means that in order to effectively use the vaccines in stock, persons still expected to receive their first dose can do so no later than July 3, Health Minister Carvin Malone previously said.
