'Consult your doctor & get vaccinated'

According to him, vaccination is the Virgin Islands' best chance of living and working with COVID-19, as well as reducing the pain in the community caused by the virus.

"Please VI, consult your doctor and get vaccinated,” Mr Archer pleaded on a live forum last night, July 20, 2021.

The Deputy Governor advised that people who are still not convinced about taking the vaccine should conduct their own research from reputable sources like the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Public Health England and World Health Organisation (WHO) to learn more about the vaccine.

“Over the past week, with great efforts, approximately 125 persons that I know personally decided to give themselves a fighting chance of living through COVID-19 by being vaccinated. I thank them and the many volunteers who assisted with the recent drives. They joined and has made the total of 15,0620 persons that have been fully vaccinated, 10,810 that are partially vaccinated for a total of 26,0501. VI, we are well on our way, but we have more work to be done,” he said.

Vaccination is the Virgin Islands' best chance of living and working with COVID-19, as well as reducing the pain in the community caused by the virus, says Deputy Governor David D. Archer.

Vaccination numbers 'too low'

Mr Archer then expressed concern that the vaccine uptake among public servants and law enforcement officers have been low and lamented that the public service has already lost three persons to COVID-19.

“I make a special, special, special plea to the 2,600 public officers; our vaccination numbers are too low, they are too low. We have already lost three employees, and you all know that we have been significantly impacted daily by persons who tested positive or has been in contact with someone who has,” he pleaded on the heels of the 23rd death and 1,604 confirmed active COVID-19 cases.

“At this time, I also make an urgent, urgent plea to our law enforcement agencies. Your vaccination rates are also too low. You are our defence, and we trust you, but unless you are protected, you cannot protect yourself, and you cannot protect us. I offer my time and my energy to work with you and converse with you so that our law enforcement agencies can be better protected,” the Deputy Governor stated.