On the one-year anniversary of the coronavirus (COVID-19) first being confirmed in Jamaica, the country today (March 10) began a national vaccination drive —with some 3,000 shots to be administered.

This is according to Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, who, speaking at the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston earlier this morning, called the government inoculation programme a critical tool in Jamaica’s coronavirus response.

“Today is indeed a historic day for us as Jamaicans. It represents exactly one year to the day since we discovered the first COVID-19 [case] in our population, March 10, 2020. And today, March 10, 2021, we are administering the first set of vaccines here at the Good Samaritan Inn. We administered two jabs [and for] the rest of the day, a number of persons will receive the jab,” he said.

“We choose this location to invite key influencers because we felt it was important for testimonials to show the country that there are a number of persons willing to take the vaccine and talk about [its] importance. And this is in anticipation of some of the pushback or [to provide] clarification for those who seek clarity on the safety, efficacy, willingness and benefits of [the vaccine],” Tufton added.

Tufton further explained there are 70 or so sites across the country, including in the Corporate Area, that began the vaccination initiative concurrently with the ministry’s public display—which also saw former prime ministers Bruce Golding, PJ Patterson as well as Sir Kenneth Hall, former governor-general receiving the vaccine.

The islandwide vaccination drive got underway as Jamaica received a gift of 50,000 AstraZeneca doses donated by the Government of India on Monday.

Senior public sector nurse in the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Marcia Thomas-Yetman created history becoming the first-ever recipient of the vaccine in Jamaica.

She was followed closely by Dr Denise Eldemire-Shearer, patron of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) as the first elderly Jamaican to receive the booster and Patrick Scott, the first man to get his introductory jab.