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… among top six in vaccination drive
Guyana is among the top six CARICOM countries with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate for both those partially and fully vaccinated. However, this is contrasted with the fact that the country also has the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases recorded and the fourth-highest number of deaths in CARICOM.
Based on data gathered from each country’s Health Ministry, St. Kitts and Nevis has the highest vaccination rate for both those partially and fully vaccinated at over 88 percent and over 42 percent respectively. The country with the lowest vaccination rate is Haiti with less than 1 percent recorded for both categories. Guyana ranks among the lowest in the top six for both categories.
Meanwhile, even as countries push for their citizens to protect themselves through vaccination, the CARICOM country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases is Jamaica with over 74,000 recorded. This is followed by Trinidad and Tobago with over 46,000 positive cases.
Suriname (over 31,000) and Guyana (over 27,000) take the next two positions though their populations, unlike Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, are less than a million. Trailing behind in the highest number of COVID-19 cases recorded are Haiti (over 21,000), The Bahamas (over 18,000) and Belize (over 17,000).
When the comes to deaths, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago continue to maintain the lead at over 1,685 and over 1,300 respectively. As with the number of cases, Suriname holds the third-highest number of deaths at over 746 and Guyana, the fourth-highest, at over 670. This is followed by Haiti (588), The Bahamas (over 412) and Belize (369).
In other words, data shows that in CARICOM, the countries with the highest number of COVID-19 cases also hold the highest number of deaths.
Below, is information on this data gathered in detail.
Antigua and Barbuda
In the country of some 97,000 people, over 35,000 have had their first jab while 7,800 are fully vaccinated. This means that over 36 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 8 percent is fully vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has approved the mixing of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines for first and second doses. It has reported some 47 deaths and over 1,900 confirmed cases to date.
On September 9, Head of the Paediatrics Department at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis warned that adults and children may soon be competing for beds at the hospital due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. A total of 146 children ages 0-16 years old have tested positive for COVID there since the start of 2021 compared to 9 in 2020.
The Bahamas
In The Bahamas, which has a population of approximately 389,000, over 105,000 have had their first jab while 59,000 are fully vaccinated. This means that over 26 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 15 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
On September 8, the country received results that confirmed the presence of the highly transmissible Delta variant in The Bahamas. Their Ministry of Health has stated: “The health care system of both the public and private sectors is now severely challenged and over-burdened, and as a result, non-COVID-19 cases requiring health care are at risk of not being able to access life-saving health care.”
The country has reported over 18,000 cases and over 412 deaths.
Barbados
Regarding Barbados with a population of 287,000, over 117,000 people have had their first jab while 95,800 are fully vaccinated. This means that over 59 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 33 percent is fully vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has recorded 51 deaths and over 5,000 positive COVID cases. Prime Minister Mia Mottley has brushed aside a suggestion that her administration should consider shutting down the island in light of increased cases. She said that the country has access to a “tested and proven weapon” in the form of the COVID vaccine that too many Barbadians are still reluctant or refusing to take.
Meanwhile, only about 40 per cent of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) membership has opted to take the COVID-19 vaccine and the organisation will soon launch a major education campaign to encourage others to take the jab.
Belize
In Belize, over 173,000 have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while over 76,000 are fully vaccinated. Considering the country’s population of approximately 390,000, his means that over 44 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 19 percent is fully vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
Their Government recently announced the requirement – effective October 1 – for persons to be vaccinated to enter public buildings including government offices. The country has had over 369 deaths and recorded over 17,000 cases.
Dominica
In the country of some 71,000 people, over 22,800 have had their first jab while 20,000 are fully vaccinated. This means that over 32 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 28 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination. The country has experienced over 2,100 COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths.
Grenada
From a population of approximately 112,000, over 28,000 have received their first dose and over 19,000 are fully vaccinated. This means that over 25 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 16 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
There have been 14 deaths in the country and over 1,700 cases. On September 3, the Grenada government declared no movement days as well as a daily curfew for the next 14 days as the island seeks to deal with an upsurge in COVID cases.
“During these no-movement days, the Ministry of Health will facilitate greater access to testing and vaccination within communities. No movement will be permitted, except for purposes of testing and vaccination,” Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell said.
Guyana
In Guyana with a population of approximately 780,000, over 327,000 have received the first jab while over 171,000 have received the second. This means that over 41 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 21 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The Government has implemented vaccination or negative PCR requirements to enter all public buildings and for transportation operators, healthcare workers and teachers to work.
COVID-19 Deaths have been recorded at over 670 while there have been over 27,000 recorded cases to date.
Haiti
Of Haiti’s whopping 11.26 million population, over 33,000 have received their first dose while over 12,000 have been fully vaccinated. This means that over 0.29 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 0.11 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
There have been over 21,094 infections and 588 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.
Haiti is among the countries in the world with the lowest vaccination rates. The others include Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Benin, Turkmenistan, and Madagascar, all of which have less than 0.7 percent of their populations partially vaccinated.
Jamaica
In Jamaica, over 453,000 have received the first jab while over 141,000 have received the second. Considering the country’s population of approximately 2.9M, this means that over 15 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 4 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
On September 9, the country’s Prime Minister said that before any consideration can be given to making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory, the government has to demonstrate that an effective public education campaign was undertaken.
“We are hopeful that our Public Education Programme will capture the people of Jamaica and encourage them to not only take the vaccine but also to join us in this campaign for vaccination,” he said. The country has recorded over 1,685 deaths and over 74,000 cases.
Montserrat
To date, over 1,400 persons on Montserrat have taken the first dose while over 1,300 have taken the second dose of the country’s 4,992 population. This means that over 28 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 26 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
There have been 31 active COVID-19 cases in Montserrat since the start of the pandemic.
Saint Lucia
To date in Saint Lucia, over 35,000 individuals have received their first dose and over 28,400 have received their second dose. Considering the country’s population of approximately 182,000, this means that over 19 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 15 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
Cases recorded in the country are at over 9,400 while there have been 128 deaths. Recently, their Minister of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, Moses Jn Baptiste, announced the deaths of two fully vaccinated individuals which he said illustrates the “changing nature” of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials said both deceased had ‘co-morbid conditions’.
St. Kitts and Nevis
Of St. Kitts and Nevis’ approximately 52,000 population, over 46,000 have received their first dose of a COVID vaccinee while 21,900 have received their second. This means that over 88 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 42 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has recorded over 1,300 positive cases and five deaths.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a population of approximately 110,000, over 19,200 have received the first dose of the vaccine while over 12,100 have been fully vaccinated. This means that over 17 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 11 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has recorded over 2,300 cases and 12 deaths. The country recently reported that five cases of the latest Mu strain of the coronavirus have been detected in the country. Health authorities are warning that it is more transmittable and able to escape immune response, making it more dangerous.
Suriname
In Suriname, out of the population of 601,158 people, over 209,000 have received their first dose while over 150,000 have been fully vaccinated. This means that over 42 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 25 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has recorded over 746 deaths and over 31,000 cases.
Trinidad and Tobago
Of the island’s approximate 1.3M population, over 536,000 have received their first dose while over 425,000 have been fully vaccinated. This means that over 41 percent of the population is partially vaccinated while only over 32 percent is full vaccinated — relative to those eligible for vaccination.
The country has recorded over 46,000 positive cases and over 1,300 deaths. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley has expressed his disappointment with what he stated were low vaccination numbers in Tobago. He highlighted that there would be a limited hospital capacity if there is a surge in COVID-19 infections.