“The Government has taken this approach to ensure a comprehensive program of vaccine rollout. The team will begin communicating early and putting plans in place for delivery of vaccine in a phased approach to the public,” Hon Malone said on a statement on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

Phased approach to distribution

After healthcare and frontline workers, phase two of vaccination will be focusing on people with underlying conditions that put them at risk of severe COVID-19 disease or death, and persons over 60 years.

Phase three will cover essential workers at high risk of exposure; such as teachers, school staff, workers and persons in care homes, shelters, prisoners and prison staff along with hospitality workers.

Phase four will cover young adults and finally, phase five will focus on all remaining residents in the territory.

“The Government is committed to providing this vaccine without cost to the public through the public health system and also making it available through private providers and will seek to ensure that access through the private sector will be at a reasonable cost,” Hon Malone further said.

Healthcare & frontline workers will be at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccination, when some 8,000 doses of the AstraZeneca AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine arrives in the Virgin Islands (VI) on February 4, 2021.

‘Remain patient’ – Hon Malone to eager residents

He reminded that members of the public remain patient and calm as a recently appointed steering committees do their work to ensure a safe and efficient roll-out of vaccine across the Territory.

“While the Government will adhere to the above it is important to understand that as far as possible all persons who want access to the vaccine must and will be afforded that opportunity,” Hon Malone reiterated.

He said future tranches of the vaccine will continue to be delivered based on the uptake and disbursement of this initial batch of vaccine donated by the UK.