The low vaccination coverage in many Caribbean countries must be urgently addressed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable, said the director of the Health Organization (OPS), Carissa F. Etienne.
Through a statement, Etienne indicated that health workers and older adults continue to be particularly at risk.
He said that of the 13 countries in the Americas that did not reach the goal of 40% vaccination coverage in 2021, ten are in Caribbean.
The director indicated that doubts about vaccination, the lack of centers in remote areas, insufficient personnel and the limited infrastructure of the cold chain continue to be enormous obstacles for vaccination in many islands, but they have the tools “to turn the tide of vaccination Caribbean“.
“There is real data showing that vaccines are safe and effective against COVID-19,” said the director of the OPS.
He stressed that interventions must now be tailored to the needs of those who remain vulnerable in each country, which means ensuring that health workers receive the information they need to get vaccinated, including about possible side effects and the duration of vaccine benefits. the vaccine.
“These are legitimate questions that need to be recognized and addressed so that we can better protect our healthcare workers and everyone else,” Dr. Etienne said.
He said that in other countries, the OPS is working with governments to ensure that vaccination centers are closer to the people who need them most and that the hours of operation are convenient for those who work.
The director of the OPS He urged countries to work with trusted individuals and community leaders to create spaces for dialogue that address concerns about vaccination.
A recent survey by the OPS and Unicef, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), showed that 51% of people who have doubts about vaccination in Caribbean Oriental were willing to change their minds after seeing more scientific and medical evidence to support vaccination.
“Dialogue, trust and awareness are the tools we must rely on to get more vaccines into people’s arms and ultimately save lives,” Etienne said.
In addition, she made a special appeal: “As a Caribbean doctor who has dedicated her life to public health, the best decision you can make for your health at this time is to get vaccinated against COVID,” she said.
“The pandemic is not over, and a new variant can emerge at any time,” he warned. “We have the power, as a community, to overcome these barriers and reduce the number of victims of this virus in our town,” he added.
Regarding the COVID-19 situation in the region, new cases decreased by 28% compared to the previous week, to 2.2 million.
Deaths also fell for the first time since the start of the omicron wave, down to 29,000, a 9% drop.
Total cases are down a third across North America, and while deaths are down in the United States, rates remain among the highest seen during the pandemic.
With the exception of Honduras, deaths also fell by 17% in Central America, although Nicaragua saw a rise in new infections.
In South America, deaths decreased by 13%, with peaks that remained in some areas, including Chile.
On Caribbeannew infections fell by 44%, but eight countries and territories reported an increase in deaths.
