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Jamaican Government To Redouble Push-Back Against Anti-vaccination Crusaders

Jamaica's Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, addresses a vaccination blitz at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, on Sunday (April 11). Photo credit: Nickieta Sterling/JIS.

Jamaican Government To Redouble Push-Back Against Anti-vaccination Crusaders

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica (Tuesday, April 13, 2021) — Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, announced that the government will be redoubling its efforts to push back against anti-vaccination crusaders, who continue to affect the rollout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination program.

He noted that the anti-vaccination movement has become well-resourced and has utilised alternative media, to push the narrative “that somehow vaccination is bad for you”.

“There are people, who discourage other people from taking the vaccine, whether in the health centre context, at home, or in the community, and some of those persons are family members. We will continue to push back against this, and we have to do a lot more to push back,” Dr. Tufton declared.

He was speaking with journalists, following a visit to the COVID-19 vaccination blitz, at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on Sunday, where more than 1,000 persons received the first of two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The event was part of the Ministry’s four-day, island-wide, vaccination exercise, which continues until today (April 13).

The Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, abuzz with activity last Sunday, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness carries out its mass coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination blitz. Photo credit: Nickieta Sterling/JIS.

The Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, abuzz with activity last Sunday, as the Ministry of Health and Wellness carries out its mass coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination blitz. Photo credit: Nickieta Sterling/JIS.

Dr. Tufton argued that much of the hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine is due to misinformation, which the Ministry intends to surmount with greater public awareness.

“The vaccine hesitancy is emerging as one of the bigger challenges that we face… I am hoping that all well-thinking Jamaicans will rationalise and reason that Jamaica has been vaccinating its population, for the last number of years, and nothing is wrong with us, clearly,” he said.

“I don’t think we should start questioning our vaccine program, here and now,” he added, noting that vaccines save as many as two million lives, worldwide, each year.

Dr. Tufton explained that the government continues to partner with several stakeholders, including the church and political representatives, to assist in getting persons vaccinated.

“We have engaged the church, we have engaged the Members of Parliament, our councillors, our civic groups, to get a national movement going, because, in the end, it is really about how we respond to what is a major threat to our population, as it is to the world,” he elaborated.

The Health Minister said, further, he is pleased with the progress of the vaccination blitz in Westmoreland, with reports of an increase in the vaccine take-up, as more categories of persons are added to the group of Jamaicans, who can be vaccinated.

Midwife, Tenesha Smith (left), administers the AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to Shatana Williams, during a vaccination blitz at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, on Sunday. At right is teacher, Moya Williams. Photo credit: Nickieta Sterling/JIS.

Midwife, Tenesha Smith (left), administers the AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to Shatana Williams, during a vaccination blitz at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall in Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland, on Sunday. At right is teacher, Moya Williams. Photo credit: Nickieta Sterling/JIS.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is continuing to vaccinate persons, 40 years and older, who suffer from one or more comorbid conditions; persons, 50 years and older; members of the public, who are employed to the transport sector; tourism workers; teachers and other employees of educational institutions; media; and staff members, from the Department of Correctional Services, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), and Jamaica Customs Agency.

Members of the public, who fall in any of these categories, can register to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by using the online portal on the Ministry’s website at www.moh.gov.jm; calling the National Vaccination Hotline at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683); or registering, on-spot, at one of the blitz sites, across the island.

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