Dominica receives first batch of Pfizer vaccine; officials confident this will help achieve herd immunity

PM Skerrit and US Embassy official (centre) holding carton of the Pfizer vaccine

With the first batch of 11, 700 Pfizer’s vaccines arriving on the island as of yesterday (Sept 21), government officials are confident that this will augment Dominica’s vaccination drive and help the country achieve herd immunity.

Speaking during the arrival of the vaccine at the Douglas Charles Airport, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit declared that such donation by US President Joe Biden and the American people is another major milestone in the continuing efforts to tackle the spread of COVID-19 among Dominica’s population, and the entire world.

“Our vaccination efforts began in earnest in February 2021. And so far, 44.6% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated. We have been able to reach these numbers due to the mobilization of vaccination centres across the island, as well as mobile units, which offer the opportunity for every citizen in every community to access vaccines,” he stated.

He said he was confident that with the receipt of these Pfizer vaccines, Dominica will be able to achieve its goal to inoculate at least 70% of its population and bolster efforts to protect the health of citizens and enable them to resume a normal life and engage in the conduct of business trade, travel, and socializing.

“The arrival of the Pfizer vaccine here provides us with another opportunity to rally our population to a cause of collective action in the fight against COVID-19,” Skerrit said. “ The numbers do not yet empower us to return to normal activity and movement which will spur our economy to renewed growth. The pandemic, we know, has had severe impacts on our fragile economy, and the livelihoods of many are at risk.”

This week, the ministry of health will roll out the Pfizer vaccine for all children in Dominica within the approved age range of 12- 17 and the Prime Minister used the occasion to seek the cooperation and support of all parents in getting their children vaccinated against the virus.

He said the Pfizer vaccines will also be available to adults who wish to be vaccinated while once again placing on record that vaccination will not be made mandatory in Dominica.

On behalf of the people of this country, the Dominican leader expressed gratitude to the Biden administration and commended them for what he labelled as “global leadership” on the matter of COVID-19 and the actions they have taken to curb the spread of this disease.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy for the Eastern Caribbean, David Schnier emphasized that this first tranche from the 46,800 Pfizer vaccines which was donated to Dominica are the same vaccines that all Americans are receiving.

This vaccine gift to Dominica is part of a $5.5 million donation by the United States people and government of Pfizer vaccines to the CARICOM community, and, according to the US Embassy official, it’s a symbol of the USA’s ongoing solidarity with the people of the Eastern Caribbean region as they recover from this devastating pandemic.

“President Biden has committed the United States to provide better vaccines around the world because he understands as the honourable minister has just said, that no one is safe until everyone is safe. I’ll say it again: no one is safe until everyone is safe. Pandemics know no borders and we are in this together as partners,” Schnier stressed.

According to the US diplomat, the donation of a little more 46,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines complements the vaccines that the United States has already made available to Dominica through the COVAX facility, including 20,800 AstraZeneca vaccines that were donated in April.

Schnier revealed that Pfizer, whose vaccines are the only ones that are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certified, has already requested permission for authorization for children as low as five years old, similar to what was done for the 12 to 17 age group, which he said will help get children back to school.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Irving McIntyre, noted that the donations come at a time when global leaders must recognize that to fight this pandemic, all countries must work together.

“So we can only be safe if everyone is safe. And this is a level of multilateralism that we really appreciate where countries can come together and to fight a common enemy,” he continued. “And as we know, vaccines, together with public health and social measures, are what are the main defences against COVID-19.”

With the Pfizer donation, three types of vaccines are now available on island. The others are the Oxford/AstraZeneca and the Sinopharm vaccines.

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31 Comments

  1. Toothpaste
    September 28, 2021

    Great, plenty available then for Skerrit, Gucci etc. to have a booster dose. And for that famous Belfast resident and his entire clan to have a least two booster doses each.

  2. Old Mother Hubbard
    September 24, 2021

    You sound like a complete idiot. Is poverty a bacteria, germ or a virus?
    You anti government, anti establishment CLOWN are the ones causing this pandemic to be still lingering, because your covert grudge for “being poor” is the government’s fault. You are probably one of these “bright” ones who never took your education that seriously, did poorly at school, working now in a mind-numbing, back-breaking job. Oh yeah, it’s the government’s fault why you’re in poverty, so you won’t take the vaccine!

  3. Lin clown
    September 23, 2021

    Mr.PREACHER,it is not Dominicans,it is %,IBO France,Bwa Banday,Views expressed and Francisco-DOGS.Why do you think Skerrit keep winning election after election,and will continue to win election after election?It is because the majority of Dominicans look at the above mentioned individuals as liars,crooks,traitors and DON KEYS.Dominicans do not care about the incoherent babbling of cloned Baboons.

  4. Truth
    September 23, 2021

    I thought he would not accept the US vaccine, just recently he was in ALBA meeting beating his chest and castigated the US accusing them of interfering in ALBA business. This man don’t realize he is an insignificant figure in the would, it’s only the ignorant laborites that don’t know better you take advantage of with your empty lying tongue

    • Rupert
      September 27, 2021

      He is not only an insignificant figure but a total waste of space.

  5. Ibo France
    September 23, 2021

    This guy (Skerrit) never passes up an opportunity to get his photo taken. Those in the media fall over themselves to accommodate him.

    He makes sensational and succulent statements strictly for publicity that fall on barren grounds and never germinate. Here are a few reminders:
    *cruise village
    *revitalization of Roseau
    *geothermal energy
    *international airport (sham)
    *proper accounting for the missing 1.5 billion CBI funds

    Many people get upset by this truth. The man who sits in the seat of the prime minister is a congenital LIAR. I will prefer someone to hurt me with the TRUTH than to make me happy with LIES.

  6. Truth Be Told
    September 23, 2021

    For goodness sake my people do some basic research! I am fully vaccinated and totally supportive of vaccines, but no country in the world has been able to achieve herd immunity with any of the many vaccines, especially due to the many mutations capabilities of this virus. So please drop the herd immunity nonsense!

  7. Wakanda Forever
    September 22, 2021

    Can we just say thanks for the vaccines and try to protect as many people as possible without using terminology like “herd immunity” that’s guaranteed to seed unnecessary debates? Science evolves and information changes; that unnerves some people who crave certainty and creates mistrust. Keep it simple: the vaccines decrease the chance of severe illness in those who take it. That’s a great help in countries like ours which lack access to expensive medications or highly advanced ICU care. Finito.

  8. Ibo France
    September 22, 2021

    That’s true. Remember Skerrit told us that Dominica would be the first climate resilient country? Where are we with that? Now he continues his cow patty talk about Dominica achieving herd immunity. This man says anything to grab headlines in the news media and to get his photo on DNO. DNO slavishly obliges every time..

  9. our Sisserou laying Eggs
    September 22, 2021

    a few weeks ago, the Japanese received a shipment of covid vaccines from the states. Their medical team found traces of aluminum in it. These people test what they’re receiving from outside before using it on their population. Question: is there anyone who’s testing the vaccines that we receive at the Dominica – China friendship hospital, before administering them to our population? or are we simply just accepting and jabbing, accepting and jabbing? not paying attention to what content may be found in these vaccines?

    ADMIN: This report indicates that traces of stainless steel (as opposed to aluminum) were found in a Moderna shipment to Japan. Moderna also claimed it did not pose “an undue risk to patient safety.”https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/moderna-says-some-covid-vaccines-sent-to-japan-contained-steel/ar-AANZw34

    • My take
      September 24, 2021

      Traces of contaminants are occasionally found in so many things other than the vaccines. Why dwell on micro issues instead of focusing on the bigger picture?

  10. Ehh?
    September 22, 2021

    Wasn’t Skeritt supposed to be in quarantine?

  11. Some fishy ting
    September 22, 2021

    Kill a few, make the others scared and then every one will take it. Did they get a vaccine for aids, cancer etc.? I just believe that there’s something diabolical going on globally with this “epidemic.” When they come up with a vaccine for poverty then I will be in line for a shot. Until then, leave me alone.

    • Poverty is a virus
      September 23, 2021

      Yes I! I like that…Poverty is killing me, so get a vaccine for poverty and then come prick me.

  12. MaryA
    September 22, 2021

    Wonderful!! I took both doses of the Pfizer vaccine several months ago and my only reaction was a headache after the second one which was easily taken care of with an Aleve. My husband and 3 of my brothers also took the Pfizer vaccine with minimal, if any, side effects!! Get vaccinated!! It will not only save your life but also the lives of the people you care about!!

    • Josephine Baptiste
      September 23, 2021

      Wait until you get your compulsory boosters. Also wait in a few years time when real data comes through and we will see the true impact of what this vaccine will do. Carry on being naive!

  13. Goodweed
    September 22, 2021

    1. For clarity, Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines (Comirnaty) has been certified by the FDA for ages 16 and older.
    2. However, Pfizer C-19 Vaccines for ages 12-15 yrs olds are only for (EUA) emergency use authorization only
    3. Vaccines for children 5-11 yrs old have not yet even been submitted to the FDA.

    4. DNO, It’s your job to state facts and tell us which of the above in quantities are on the island?

  14. derp
    September 22, 2021

    There will never be herd immunity in Dominica via vaccination… almost everyone will get it via catching it… that’s how herd immunity is going to be achieved because Dominicans not together

    • Ibo France
      September 22, 2021

      Is Herd Immunity just a myth? Right now, the Covid-19 virus is even more prevalent and devastating before the use of the vaccines. Not one country, as yet, has been able to achieve this elusive goal.

  15. MR DOMINICA
    September 22, 2021

    so why is skeritt always makes himself look like a publicity seeker by putting his hands on these boxes which can be handled by one man while there are men working at the airport to do this and not looking for their picture in the news ? Will he be unloading crates and suit cases at the his dreamful airport at wesley? I hope to see him on the job

    • VereTere
      September 23, 2021

      Because he is a notorious attention seeker. All incompetent liars behave in this manner. When something goes wrong they can’t be seen because then they front their minions.

    • Preacher
      September 23, 2021

      You are just jealous of PM
      It does matter what the man does
      He is criticise
      Even he calls money from heaven
      And give everyone $1000000 people will still criticise him
      This PM is very strong
      Dominican are like crabs
      It does matter how much you feed them they will bite you
      Give jack his jacket when he does good give him his roses
      He is not the perfect one but he is trying

      • %
        September 23, 2021

        @Preacher
        Whoever you are, you lack everything good in you..Why would someone be jealous of a misleader like Skerrit? It says a lot about about your own character and how spoit it is!!
        Shame on you!!

  16. zandoli
    September 22, 2021

    no country has achieved herd immunity despite high vaccination rates, but Dominica is hoping to achieve that with 46K of Pfizer vaccines. These guys are the captains of hyperbole.

  17. Lin Clown
    September 22, 2021

    After we reach herd immunity,everybody wishing to take a test or be vaccinated should pay $1,500 for test and $2,000 for vaccination.I am sure the vast MAJORITY will be UWP supporters.I thought the US would deliver the vaccines to LENNOX LINTON in as much as UWP supporters said the US had nothing to do with Skerrit.

    • Ibo France
      September 22, 2021

      Do you slip in and out of consciousness? You can’t be making such preposterous comments with your brain intact. Not even the most fanatical DLP diehard could support your brainlessness.

  18. Channel 1
    September 22, 2021

    Why are we seeing high covid infection rates in highly vaccinated countries such as Israel & Singapore at this time?

    How does any country achieve herd immunity for an unstable virus which is prone to mutations and for which the ‘vaccines’ made to counter it do not prevent infection nor halt the transmission of that virus variants such as Delta?

    Please refer to the second paragraph in this article from CDC’s Director Rochelle P. Walensky – https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0730-mmwr-covid-19.html

    • make it make sense
      September 23, 2021

      Stop asking questions. Just take your jab and shut up. It’s safe and effective. Never mind the side effects in young healthy people, it’s just a statistical anomaly. Even though people within that demographic have a higher chance of having side effects from the vaccine than dieing from the virus.

      Also please ignore the fact that the CDC just admitted that fully vaccinated people can have as much viral load as non-vaccinated people who already have had the virus and have developed natural immunity. As a matter of fact forget that whole concept of natural immunity. It stopped existing when the novel coronavirus started to spread.

      Also ignore all those people who have gotten vaccinated and have been infected like Chris Rock telling people they don’t want to get COVID so get vaccinated despite the fact that he got it while being vaccinated. Just ignore the fact that that makes no sense. Just comply

      • Channel 1
        September 23, 2021

        @make it make sense – :lol: :lol: :lol: …..you know I initially misread your comment but upon review I caught your drift.

        Your points reflect what some of these pro-covid vaccine propagandists want human beings to do…..close our eyes to credible unanswered concerns regarding these ‘vaccines’ and just run and get it.

      • Gary
        September 24, 2021

        I assume you got vaccinated, now the people who died or got injured permanently they have no recourse, the makers of the vaccine is not liable, you just dismiss it as “it’s just a statistical anomaly” this sounds so cold an inhumane. I wonder if it was a family member of yours, you would write such incentive nonsense. Don’t you think it is important that such injuries or death should be thoroughly looked into, it is easy to sit behind your computer and write such comment saying “Just comply, ” only sheep does this, are we not above the sheep so long for your ludicrous advice.

  19. Mark
    September 22, 2021

    Hope we take advantage of these new vaccines Stay safe.

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