Jamaicans being inoculated with different COVID-19 vaccines should pose no challenge, says MAJ

 

Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) President Dr. Andrew Manning has said he does not foresee a challenge if the population is inoculated with different COVID-19 vaccines, as the Government explores other sources for doses.

 

Dr. Manning is in support of going to market as the World Health Organization's Global Access (COVAX) Facility is not expected until April. 

 

"We definitely have to be prudent in dealing with the vaccine thing. You have to have your plan 'A' and your plan 'B' and your plan 'C'. So wherever we're able to acquire the vaccination or vaccines, we should," he suggested, even as he insisted the vaccines must first be proven safe and effective. 

 

He believes if the vaccination programme is organised, the use of different vaccines should not be a problem. 

 

"What it means though is that if you get a particular type of vaccine for the first shot...you have to get both shots with the same vaccine.... You don't mix and match the vaccines in a particular individual, but you certainly can have different individuals within the community having different types of vaccines," he explained Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

                                                                

But Dr. Manning admitted there will have to be a sensitisation programme for the safe administering of vaccines, especially if they will be from different sources.