Twenty-five Thousand COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive from India
Another shipment of COVID-19 vaccines was met with much fanfare on Monday afternoon by the Government of Belize. A delivery of twenty-five thousand doses of AstraZeneca shots arrived via a United Airlines flight at the P.G.I.A. where it was met by the Minister of Health & Wellness, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the Indian government. The donation is part of a planned rollout by the Briceño administration to inoculate all frontline workers, as well as persons who fall within certain vulnerable populations. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The ceremonial blessing of a significant batch of vaccines from India marks the second donation of AstraZeneca doses to arrive at the Philip Goldson International Airport within the last two weeks. The fight against COVID-19 sees an additional twenty-five thousand shots being made available to various populations, including the elderly.
Arun Hotchandani
Arun Hotchandani, Honorary Consul of India in Belize
“Monday is usually the beginning of a school week and the beginning of a work week. Well today I call it Magical Monday or Memorable Monday as it is the beginning of us seeing the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. On behalf of the government and people of India, minister, kindly accept these vaccines as a token of our great friendship between our countries. Although we may have tens of thousands of miles apart on the physical distance, our relationship is cemented and will continue to grow.”
On March eighth, the shipment that landed at the P.G.I.A. was met by a delegation of government officials. The acquisition of the vaccines was made possible through the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the Indian Foreign Minister and the High Commissioner of India.
Amalia Mai
Amalia Mai, C.E.O., Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“It’s a very significant event because it shows not only that India is a great friend of Belize but a true leader in global health. India has already been assisting some countries in the Caribbean and the twenty-five thousand doses that we received today will mean that more health personnel, the vulnerable, as well as the elderly will now be able to benefit significantly from the vaccine. As you know, we have been anxiously awaiting this moment because we need to reopen our economy.”
Upon its arrival in Belize a year ago, COVID-19 brought with it a mounting death toll. As many as three hundred and fifteen persons have lost their lives to the dreaded coronavirus.
Arun Hotchandani
“As you are all aware, this pandemic last year took the entire world at ransom and we may have lost many loved ones and dear ones to us, including a colleague of the minister a few months ago, including two doctors who were very near and dear to us. May they all rest in peace.”
On hand to receive the donation was Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat. According to him, all healthcare workers on the frontline will be inoculated before the vaccine is administered to other vulnerable groups.
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
“It is a two-dose vaccination. We got a thousand donated from Barbados and with this twenty-five, it gives us twenty-six. And so we are going to be giving twenty-six thousand of our citizens an initial dose and when we get our supply from COVAX they are going to be getting their second dose. But this will certainly allow us to vaccinate all of our healthcare workers, both in the private and the public sector, as well as all of our citizens who are sixty years old and above and who have certain conditions such as HIV, cancer or renal failure at this time.”
The availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite its bumpy origin, does not solve issues relating to the spread of COVID-19. Chebat was sure to point that out, along with the significant reduction in active cases.
Michel Chebat
“Please note that this vaccine is not a quick fix solution but it will play a central role in saving lives, in containing the pandemic, in protecting our healthcare system and in helping to restore our economy. It will provide our Belizean citizens with a sense of hope and predictability in their lives. Please allow me to remind and highlight that in the last month we have been active on all fronts. The Government of Belize, along with the Ministry of Health & Wellness have pulled out all the stops to fight the pandemic and its economic fallout. Our team has managed to reduce the daily positive rates from that of 50.3% in December 2020, to 1.63%. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a difference of 48.67%.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
