August 21, 2021

Health Minister: Rural Communities To Get First Preference For Single Dose Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

By Newsroom

As government prepares to begin administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, rural communities will get first priority in accessing the single dose jab, according to Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh.

At Saturday’s Covid-19 media briefing, the Minister highlighted remote coastal areas and villages including, but not limited to, Sans Souci, Blanchisseuse, Las Cuevas, Matelot, Kernahan, Guayaguayare, Moruga, Cedros, Los Iros, Charlotteville, and Speyside in Tobago. 

“There are many areas in the coastal areas and even inland that want to be vaccinated but don’t have the wherewithal to be transported twice to a mass vaccination site, or even go to a health centre” Deyalsingh said as he explained the justification for the decision.

Residents in these communities will also be given the chance to have their questions and concerns about the vaccine answered directly by health authorities from their relevant RHA, in a quest to dispel vaccine hesitancy.

“We are breaking down every single barrier to vaccination. It’s accessible, it’s free and now we are coming to you in this program of mobile units,” the Health Minister said.

The 108,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday afternoon.

It was the first tranche of a total of 800,000 doses ordered through the African Medical Supplies Platform. 

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