Jamaican parents are today (August 13) contemplating their next move after Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton on Thursday announced that the Government would be moving to make the COVID-19 vaccine accessible to children 12 years and older.

Speaking during Thursday evening’s COVID Conversations, Tufton explained that with a shipment of 200,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expected on the island next Tuesday, the health ministry would be looking to roll out vaccination efforts for those 15 years and older, as well as 12 years and older with comorbidities.

The Pfizer vaccine is one of very few vaccine brands that have been approved for children 12 years and older and, with the brand expected to be available to citizens soon, Tuton said the priority would be given to younger demographics as the ministry seeks to widen its COVID-19 vaccination drive.

While parents have for the most part seemed to be generally in favour of vaccinating their children, there still remain a few who are opposed to the idea.

In conversation with Our Today, one parent who is the mother of a 14-year-old immunocompromised girl, noted that she was completely against having her child COVID-19 vaccinated.

While not opposed to vaccines in general, the mother explained that she had not yet made time to do her own research into the COVID-19 vaccine and did not feel comfortable pushing her daughter to take a vaccine that she herself did not feel confident in.

The mother, who asked not to be named, shared similar sentiments to that of one social media user who stated: “Really, not my children. A lady overseas volunteered her daughter and she was crippled with brain damage… Hell no!! Move from here so with this. People be careful, don’t let them use you, child, as a lab rat.”

Despite these views, however, parent Dr Shelly-Ann Whitley Clarke, who herself has already been fully vaccinated, told Our Today she was eager for the opportunity to have her child vaccinated.

She stated: “In all honesty, once I have proof that there are no side effects for 12-year-olds, listen, she grow up a get vaccine so if that is what it’s going to take to protect her, then I am not anti-vaccine.”

Like Clarke, Norval, the father of a 13-year-old boy who asked that his full name not be used, also said he had no qualms as it relates to having his son vaccinated and was prepared to do whatever it takes for his son to return to the classroom.

“I wouldn’t be averse to my son getting the vaccine if it means that he can go back to school face to face because this online learning thing is just not working out,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, after arrival on August 17, the Pfizer vaccine doses are expected to go into circulation across all vaccination centres on August 23. Reiterating comments made earlier this week by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Tufton said there were no current plans to make the COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for either teens or adults.