Health officials here have reportedly taken a decision to extend the period of time for the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered.
Initially, the plan was to have the 2nd dose of the vaccine administered 6 weeks after the 1st dose; however it will now be administered after 10 weeks.
Community Health Nurse, Audrey Lyons, who is in charge of the expanded programme on immunization here, says the wait period for the 2nd dose was 8 weeks.
Nurse Lyons says reviews from the World Health Organization indicate that the efficacy of the vaccine is best administered after 10 to 12 weeks.
In an effort to sensitize the public on the extension of the time before receiving the second dose the Ministry of Health launched a sensitization campaign last Friday.
Nurse Lyons says for persons who need to travel or choose to stick with the original time frame the vaccine will be administered.
