Following the expected arrival of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on the island later this week, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will move to prioritise the vaccination of children 12 years and older.

According to the health ministry, the island is to on Thursday (August 19) see the first batch of a total shipment of 608,000 doses of the vaccine to arrive in Jamaica in the coming weeks – the result of negotiations through the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with the Government of the United States.

The donation will be delivered in three shipments over three months, with the first batch comprising 204,000 doses.

Speaking on the matter, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton stated: “The Pfizer vaccine has been proven safe and approved for use in children and adolescents.”

As such, “The prioritisation of children is critical at this juncture. This is in the context of the suspected presence of the Delta Variant in the island and its increased adverse impact on younger persons.”

He added: “Accordingly, the public health priority must be to protect these individuals through vaccination. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will, therefore, be providing these vaccines to persons 12 years and older with parental consent.”

As part of the Government’s mandate to prioritise education and the re-opening of schools for face-to-face instruction, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will finalise discussions with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information on the ways in which students 12 years and older can be facilitated for early vaccination.

To become vaccinated, members of the public are encouraged to make their appointments online at https://www.moh.gov.jm or call the Vaccination Call Centre at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683).

Once persons have received their appointment confirmation, they are to visit their vaccination site on time and with their tax registration number (TRN) and government-issued identification or letter from a Justice of the Peace.

There are no appointment requirements for mobile vaccination sites, which are also being run islandwide. However, persons should turn up with their government-issued identification.

The health ministry is encouraging members of the public to stay vigilant in their practice of infection prevention and control measures, notably, mask-wearing, maintaining physical distance from others and frequently washing and/or sanitising hands.