Ministry of Health & Wellness Vaccination Campaign A Flop?

Michel Chebat

And, as Belize continues to receive commitment for vaccine donations, has the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ failed in convincing the masses of the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in the Toledo District? With less than twenty percent of the Ministry’s target population vaccinated, there are those who are of the opinion that Minister Michel Chebat and his Ministry is not doing enough to get the population vaccinated.  Here is how he responded to that criticism at a handing over event in Belmopan today.

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness

“I can tell you this, that in one week we vaccinated almost thirteen thousand people across this country. So I think there is something wrong with how you are interpreting this and internationally so. But, I can tell you that more than ever we have more people coming out to get vaccinated. Our teams are throughout this country going form business to business targeting people to get vaccinated. It is no secret that there is a certain amount of the population who are anti-vaxxers. That is regular. That is normal. That is not unique to Belize. At the end of the day, Toledo is a very special case. We found in Toledo when our people went in there that the religious community down there are the ones who are against the vaccination and getting people vaccinated. We have people going in Toledo especially to teach them and inform them of the benefit of the vaccine. So over the next couple weeks we anticipate that we will see a major uptake in the Toledo district.”