Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

USVI vaccination rates among lowest in US; PR among highest

USVI vaccination rates among lowest in US; PR among highest

The low vaccination rates in the U.S. Virgin Islands and mounting deaths related to the virus have accelerated the plea from local leaders encouraging residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“The vaccines are working by reducing infections and preventing severe illness and hospitalizations," said USVI Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis on Monday.

"Our hospitals continue to admit unvaccinated individuals with serious illness despite us having the tools to avoid this. We are seeing decreased hospitalizations but increased deaths and many of our hospitalizations are ventilated. This shows how dire the situation is.”

Dr. Ellis said that as of Monday 45.7 percent of the eligible population in the USVI was fully vaccinated against Covid-19. In Puerto Rico, the percentage of fully vaccinated among the eligible population as of Thursday, August 26, 2021, was 68.5 percent.

The island commonwealth's first-dose vaccination rate stood at 80 percent, while the USVI's first-dose percentage stood at roughly 57 percent.

The reason for the disparity has not been researched, however, the USVI has done a good job of balancing restrictions with economic activity over the course of the pandemic.

On Monday, the USVI's positivity rate stood at 4.5 percent, while Puerto Rico's as of Wednesday was 12 percent. The USVI has experienced 51 Covid-related deaths to date out of a population of 110,000, while Puerto Rico as of Thursday had more than 2,600 deaths out of its 3.3 million population.

Both territories in recent times have seen a surge in active cases because of the Delta variant of Covid-19, though Puerto Rico's surge, based on the positivity rate, is more severe.

On Monday, Puerto Rico's government started requiring employees and customers of restaurants and other enclosed food and drink and entertainment facilities to get vaccinated or show proof of a negative Covid-19 test— a more stringent approach than the USVI. Noncompliance will result in a fine of $5,000 or six months in jail, the government said.

While the U.S. Virgin Islands has limits on capacity and has reinstated a beach curfew of 4:00 p.m., there has been no mandatory vaccine or proof of negative test requirement to dine in restaurants or to participate in entertainment activities.

In cases where proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 test is required in the USVI for such activities, these protocols are put in place by organizers of the events, not the government.

Beginning Sept. 9, all USVI government employees will have to test weekly for Covid-19 if they are not vaccinated, Governor Bryan said earlier this month — a move already implemented by the PR government. Mr. Bryan said at time the announcement was part of a strategy to make life more difficult for Virgin Islanders who are not inoculated, though the action only affects government employees.

On Monday, Puerto Rico's government started requiring employees and customers of restaurants and other enclosed food and drink and entertainment facilities to get vaccinated or show proof of a negative Covid-19 test— a more stringent approach than the USVI. Noncompliance will result in a fine of $5,000 or six months in jail, the government said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
×