Almost 2,000 COVID-19 booster shots have been administered as at January 11, 2022 in Dominica. This fact was revealed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) David Johnson who urged eligible persons to get vaccinated without delay. Johnson said the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sinopharm booster shots have been available in the country since December 20, 2021.
The CMO identified eligible persons who are supposed to get the booster shots persons 65 years and older; 18 years and older who are resident in long-term care facility; 18 years and older with underlying medical conditions; and 18 years and older working in high-risk conditions. These categories of persons are eligible to take the booster jabs six months after getting fully vaccinated with their second vaccination shots.
The senior medical official revealed that the more people get vaccinated, the sooner the country will return to pre-covid normalcy. He warned that getting fully vaccinated – even with booster shots – should not mean that people should get careless with health and safety protocols.
For us, in Dominica, we need to ramp-up our vaccination coverage to allow for greater normalization of society and economic activity. Even after getting vaccinated you need to continue to take precautions to protect yourself, your family, your friends and your loved ones. We need to take the vaccine and continue the proven health protocols in the face of Omicron which is spreading wildly all over the world.
David Johnson, Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
In a related development, Johnson stated that an average of 72 positive coronavirus cases was recorded as at January 12, 2022. He noted that the government continues to monitor variants across communities and in places where cluster cases have been confirmed. He lamented that in one health district, the rate of positivity climbed from 6% in December 2021 to 17% in January 8, 2022, indicating that people have let down their guards during the Christmas period.
Our primary aim here in Dominica is to reduce Covid-19 burden and the viral transmission, reduce death and severe disease due to covid-19 and protect the health system as well as to restore social and economic life. “Those who are eligible please get vaccinated and continue to adhere to the health protocols.
David Johnson, Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
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