Grenada is among 36 PAHO member countries that could soon be receiving the first phase of delivery of a batch of AstraZeneca (COVID-19) vaccines.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has advised its member countries about the estimated doses of AstraZeneca they could be receiving as early as this month.
At a News Briefing recently, it was hinted that by Grenadian authorities that efforts were being made to obtain vaccines through what has been established as the COVAX facility, the global procurement mechanism which aims to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines.
It’s also the conduit guaranteeing fair and equitable access for every country in the World.
Approximately 35.3 million doses will be arriving in the Americas for the initial phase and Grenada is to get its share.
According to PAHO, the AstraZeneca vaccine is still under review by the WHO for emergency use approval.
This exercise is expected to be advanced over the “next few days.”
PAHO says the number of doses and delivery schedule remain subject to emergency use approval and manufacturing capacity.
A PAHO communiqué, issued last Sunday, indicated that correspondence, in the form of letters, to this effect was conveyed to each of the states, which are situated in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
They include 10 other CARICOM countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, Monserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Other countries and territories in and around the Caribbean that are also slated to benefit are: Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
PAHO’s Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, described the impending commencement of vaccine delivery through the Facility as a “hopeful step” in the fight against COVID-19.
The goal is to provide vaccines for at least 20 per cent of the population in each COVAX country participant to protect those most at risk for severe forms of COVID-19. Petra Louison, Wee FM News.
