Prime Minister Andrew Holness is again reacting to criticism of the government’s efforts to obtain COVID-19 vaccines.
Holness emphasized today that the Government has used various means to obtain doses, adding that it has acted in Jamaica’s best interest.
“I heard what the Opposition said and what others said. A lot of what is being said is not accurate and can be misleading to the public,” said Holness.
Opposition leader Mark Golding went on the attack recently with a coup against the government, saying he was grossly negligent in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines for Jamaicans.
READ: Golding accuses Holness of ‘gross negligence’ in purchasing vaccines
Speaking today, Holness noted that the government has been careful to talk about issues related to purchasing vaccines because of the bilateral and multilateral considerations that exist.
“The work that goes on behind the scenes to get to this point, we don’t bring it to the public and, because we don’t, it leaves space for speculation. You would have heard things like ‘the rest of the Caribbean is ahead of us’ and ‘they did things we didn’t do’. You would have seen a CARICOM statement that explains our position because Jamaica is not the only country that expects vaccines, “said Holness.
READ: VACCINE CRY TO BIDEN – CARICOM attracts the US, says it is ‘squeezed’ by rich countries
He noted that there was a lot of “vaccine policy” at stake.
“There is a situation now, in which larger countries, richer countries can purchase supplies. We are in the initial phase of vaccine production and, therefore, the demand for the vaccine far exceeds the existing supply.”
Today, the Indian High Commissioner in Jamaica, His Excellency Ambassador Masakui Rungsung, announced that a vaccine donation is scheduled to arrive next week.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has already stated that it expects to receive 50,000 doses of vaccines from India.
Rungsung noted that India has committed to providing 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to countries in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and that the part of Jamaica is ready to be shipped.
READ: Jamaica to receive COVID-19 vaccines from India next week
Holness thanked the donation and said that Jamaica is planning its vaccination program.
“We are making sure that the vaccines we have are approved by the World Health Organization … we are ensuring that when the vaccines arrive here they can be distributed and administered very quickly so that there are no delays in storage and confusion about who should get them. All of this work is being done. “
“Your government is acting in your best interest,” said Holness.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, said the vaccination storage facilities have been examined and are ready.
READ: Tufton says vaccination storage facilities are ready
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