Massive Turnout for Vaccination in Orange Walk
The Ministry of Health and Wellness is carrying out a national vaccination campaign, which today took them to Orange Walk District where hundreds of residents came out get vaccinated. Scores of persons were getting either their first or second jab. This is promising as the country tries to get enough people vaccinated so that economic activity can fully rebound. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
There were snaking lines outside the school grounds in San Pablo Village in the Orange Walk District as the institution was transformed into a vaccination centre today. Hundreds of residents, as well as villagers from neighbouring San Jose, came out to get their jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. There were two queues – one for those coming for a second shot and those who were there for the first time. Following a brief sensitization session for the first-timers, they go through triage and then they are vaccinated before moving on to a second room to wait for fifteen minutes. It was a smooth transition and the sentiment of these people is that the vaccine saves lives.
Mynor Escarada
Mynor Escarada, San Jose Villager
“I come out because I noh want get sick and I come out until right now cause I used to have lotta job. But I have to take my time to come out and make I get safe. Dah noh only me; my family too right.”
It is a part of the ongoing national campaign by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to get as many persons vaccinated so that they receive that additional layer of protection against the deadly virus.
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Ministry of Health & Wellness
“This is what we were hoping for; this is what the ministry has been working on for the last six months. Educating, encouraging people to come out and get vaccinated and this crowd out here today shows to me that people are listening, people are getting the message; people realise the importance of being vaccinated. We have over three hundred active cases at this time; there is no need for that. We moved from a level one to level three. And so we have to continue to warn and encourage our people to observe the public health measures; those are critical for us. We have the vaccine on hand. There are countries who do not have access to vaccinations the way we do and the vaccination guarantees you that it is going to save your life; it is going to keep you out of the hospital, it’s gonna prevent you from having severe symptoms. And so we want to reopen our economy, we want to get our country back again; this is the way to do it. Come out and get vaccinated.”
Vaccination stations were set up at two other locations including the Central Park in Orange Walk Town and at the People’s Stadium. Coming out in support of the vaccination exercise were several ministers of government including Orange Walk North area rep, Ramon Cervantes.
Ramon Cervantes
Ramon Cervantes, Area Representative, Orange Walk North
“The turnout is great and it demonstrates that the people are taking this COVID-19 matter very serious. The people are serious about safeguarding their lives and the lives of others – of their family members, of their neighbours – and I commend my people of Orange Walk North for being so proactive and taking this step to come and get vaccinated for the sake of health.”
The goal is to achieve herd immunity, which is for seventy percent of the population to be vaccinated. The campaign is outside of the vaccinations happening at health facilities and established vaccination centres across the country. And Ministers Kevin Bernard and Jose Abelardo Mai say that a healthy population means a healthy economy.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise
“The more people are vaccinated in this country, the better the human health and the greater the economic health; it is very important. The sales in poultry has gone up in this country; it gone up higher than what it was before COVID-19. Consumption of pork has gone up; consumption of beef has gone up. The economic wheels are turning slowly; if this is to continue, we have to vaccinate ourselves. The signs and symptoms of a speedy recovery is there, but we need to vaccinate ourselves.”
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth, Sports & E-Governance
“All of us must do our part and we want to encourage everybody – young and old, especially those who can take the vaccine at this time – to come out and do your part, take the vaccine, get vaccinated. The more Belizeans that get vaccinated, the more it will help our economy, the more it will ease up some of the restrictions that we have. But at the same time, it helps to save lives.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
