Public health professor not in agreement with tourism workers being among first batch to get COVID vaccine

2:17 pm, Wed December 16, 2020

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Peter Figueroa, Professor of Public Health at the University of the West Indies - Gleaner file photo

Professor Peter Figueroa

Peter Figueroa, Professor of Public Health at the University of the West Indies, Mona, is not in agreement with a plan by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett to have tourism workers included in the first batch of individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr. Bartlett argues that tourism workers are also a vulnerable group.

But Professor Figueroa said the focus should be on frontline medical staff in the first delivery since they are most at risk.

Speaking Wednesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, Professor Figueroa said protection of health workers is especially important as Jamaica is preparing to enter the cooler months of the year, and the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to rise.

"It is possibble that in January and February, the COVID virus may transmit more readily in Jamaica and we may get more spread, more severe cases and a rush on the hospitals again. So, we've got to protect the health workers and we also need to think of the elderly, who are most at risk of severe illness and death," he explained.

The authorities are hoping to have at least 16 per cent of the population vaccinated against the virus by the end of next year.

However, some nurses have reportedly expressed fear about the safety of the vaccine that Jamaica will receive.

The concern is about the pace at which the vaccine went through the trials.

Professor Figueroa said he understands the fear of healthcare workers about getting the COVID-19 injection. However, he has urged them not to be afraid.

He said the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine which is being administered in the UK and US, has been showing encouraging results.

"Now, there're several vaccines. Each vaccine that has been authorised so far, over 40,000 persons have been followed for a period and persons have received the vaccine. There are very few adverse events or side effects...and the vaccine is giving us a very good and encouraging result that it will protect you. So the vaccines we have are safe and they are effective," he sought to assure.

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