The Ministry of Health says that it is moving full steam ahead with the aggressive vaccination program which began in Dominica on February 12, 2021.
Chief Medical Officer(CMO) Dr. David Johnson said that while the Ministry is following reports of blood clots in persons around the world who have participated in the AstraZeneca vaccination programs, health officials here look to the World Health Organization(WHO) and other regional bodies for strategic guidelines. He said that a report from the Caribbean Public Health Agency(CARPHA), has concluded that no link can be determined between the vaccine and the blood disorder mentioned. Health Officials are also considering giving the Sinopharm vaccines to children.
Meanwhile, National Epidemiologist, Dr. Shaluddin Ahmed encouraged everyone to take the vaccine. He said that that vaccination decreases one’s likelihood of being infected or transmitting the virus to others. He added that the vaccine stimulates one’s immune cells to produce anti bodies specific to the viral protein and memory cells. So that if one does get exposed to Covid-19, the antibodies will prevent the virus from attaching to our cell receptors thus preventing the virus entering the cell and preventing virus replication. If there is no replication of the virus, then one does not have an adequate quantity of the virus for infection to occur or to be able to transmit to others.
Ahmed stressed that vaccination is also important to achieve herd immunity without which our normal way of life will continue to be restricted. To achieve herd immunity, close to 100% of the target group needs to be vaccinated.
14,583 Dominicans have been vaccinated since the roll out began on February 12, 2021. This represents about 31% of the target population which is about 2/3 of the entire population.
The ministry announced that the final day for the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be the last Friday in March. However under certain circumstances, this date may be extended.
Presently, there are 14 active cases of Covid-19 in Dominica with 11 being females and 3 males with ages ranging from 19- 69 years. All cases are imported ones with 7 of them being non nationals. 12 of the 14 cases were detected on day 5 testing, while 2 were detected on arrival. 10 of the cases are asymptomatic.
