Health, News, Regional News

Seniors urged to take COVID-19 vaccine

Published 16 February, 2021

Basseterre

Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source

Article by
Sandy Deane

Some of the island’s senior citizens took to vaccination centres, including the David Thompson Health & Social Services Complex on Monday to get the COVID-19 jab.

And according to Senior Health Sister at the St John facility, Kim Maughn, the process went well.

“Quite a few seniors have taken us up on the offer today to be immunized. We are expecting about 35 persons today and so far everything is going smoothly,” she told a Barbados TODAY news team.

Barbados has one of the highest proportions of older people, the group deemed most at risk from COVID-19. The majority of the island’s 25 COVID-related deaths have been elderly people with chronic diseases.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley disclosed that over 2,000 people over age 70 had registered to take the vaccine, while just under 1,000 people between 18 and 69 had also registered.

Maughn urged the island’s senior citizens to get vaccinated.

“Take the opportunity to be immunized,” she said, advising seniors to call the Ministry of Health to sign up.

“Right now we are doing the persons over 70 and if you are under 70 you can also send your WhatsApp [message] and when we get to the persons in your age group then they will contact you.

People over 70 and those between 18 and 69 who suffer from a chronic illness can register by sending their contact details via WhatsApp message only to 850-7071/8511-7071 for Digicel users.

The information required includes Name; Age; National ID Number; Address; Telephone Number and what if any chronic diseases the registrant has.
(SD)

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