The Junior Minister has also called for persons to return to adhering to the COVID-19 protocols so that the territory can come out of its “dire” situation.

There have been 18 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths in the VI and active cases have reached over 1500.

Many of the hospitalisations have been among the unvaccinated, statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Development have shown.

“Vaccination has been proven to be an incredible defense against COVID-19, for individuals, for families and for communities and countries.

“I understand that you may have questions and there are many valid questions to be had, but questions are to be answered. Use the resources available to you until you are satisfied about the safety and success of the vaccines available,” Hon Flax-Charles said in Facebook post on July 14, 2021.

Many of the hospitalisations due to COVID-19 have been among the unvaccinated, statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Development have shown.

‘I made the decision to be vaccinated’- Hon Flax-Charles

The Territorial At Large Member and Virgin Gorda resident then disclosed that she has made the decision to be vaccinated.

“Once my doctors gave the all-clear, I made the decision to be vaccinated and I am encouraging all persons to have the same conversation with their doctor and make a decision to protect our BVI.”

Hon Flax-Charles confirmed to our newsroom today, July 20, 2021, that she has taken both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and also shared that she had no adverse reactions.

She reiterated that she was never against the vaccine but was only following her doctor’s advice at the time.

She said she has received many calls from members of the community expressing fears about the vaccine and has directed them to medical experts to address their concerns.

“I know right now it is the politically safe thing to straddle the fence but I also know that vaccinated or not, all of us want to see the best of this territory and so we must respect and defend each other while also being encouragers of what is best,” Hon Flax-Charles had said in her Facebook post.

There have been 18 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths in the VI and active cases have reached over 1500.

'We must return to those protocols'

Hon Flax-Charles also said the goal of Government was never to completely avoid COVID but to ensure that when it arrives on our shores individual behaviour would have prevented its spread.

“We must return to those protocols to put this situation back in a chokehold and regain our social and economic freedom. Wear your mask, maintain social distancing, continue to wash your hands, most importantly though, be responsible with your physical interactions.”