It is reassuring to note that the Dutch Caribbean will share in COVID-19 vaccines to be secured by the Netherlands (see related story), as St. Maarten’s Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Richard Panneflek had already indicated. Decisions must still be taken on their use, but apparently health care workers plus persons 60 years and older or with relevant preconditions are the likely first target groups.
The islands will be responsible for local storage and distribution, but assistance from the Netherlands is available. Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten as autonomous countries within the kingdom have the final say in this matter, but obviously based on sound medical advice and guidance from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment RIVM.
Ultimately there will be enough to offer all adults, but not for several months. At that point, a widespread vaccination campaign can be expected.
It will be voluntary in the Netherlands, where only 60 per cent recently surveyed said they would accept such. That is indeed for each individual to decide and there remain legitimate concerns about the accelerated testing, human trials and approval process, along with possible hidden side-effects not only immediate but also in the long run.
However, keep in mind that refusing a vaccine implies a responsibility to keep wearing facemasks, frequent hand sanitation and social distancing for quite some time to protect oneself and others at least until the risk diminishes to an acceptable level.
For years there has been much debate about pros and cons of flu shots and the like, but COVID-19 is no regular flu. Hundreds of thousands of infected people including 25 in St. Maarten have succumbed to this terrible disease and many continue dying every single day.
