The prospects for all persons, in Anguilla, to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, are now becoming possible with another 4,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine having arrived on the island on Wednesday afternoon, March 17. These brings to 12,000 the number of doses received, so far, from the United Kingdom Government.
The first batch of the vaccine, amounting to 8,000 doses, was received on February 5. Since then, over 5,000 doses have been distributed. As previously, the vaccine was brought to Anguilla from Antigua by a special aircraft – with the suitable temperature control – which connected with a British Airways flight. Unlike the previous occasion, the vaccine did not overnight in Antigua.
Among those at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport for the arrival of the vaccine, was Governor Dileeni Selvaratnam, who referred to it as “precious cargo”; Mr. Colin Hicks, Head of the Governor’s Office; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Foster Rogers.
The Governor remarked: “It is not something you can take for granted. I think we are in an incredibly privileged position where we have this vaccine and are among some of the first to get it – and to continue this programme of vaccination…There is a real business edge and health edge to it, and I think we cannot forget that side of it in terms of the importance of what this represents to Anguilla, not only from a health perspective, but from an economic standpoint as well.”
Mr. Foster Rogers commented: “We now have enough vaccine for everybody to get his or her first shot. With the additional doses, if we have 6,000 persons [who got the initial dose], we will have enough to give everybody the double dose – and that would be it. Once you are a resident in Anguilla, you would qualify for the vaccine, but short-term visitors would not.”
Although there are still some persons who are delaying to take the vaccine, there is a growing realisation among the population of the need to be vaccinated to preserve health and wellbeing, and to prepare for the full reopening of Anguilla.
