PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Omar Ottley has decided in consultation with Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Department Head Eva Lista-de Weever that CPS will host a “Pop-Up” COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Vineyard building on Saturday, April 24, in efforts to increase the vaccination numbers throughout the community. The vaccination clinic will be open from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
This clinic will be open to all persons residing on the Dutch side who have not already registered to be vaccinated. On arrival, persons are required to provide a St. Maarten ID card, a driver’s licence or a Dutch passport, or a non-Dutch passport with the latest Immigration entry stamp dating back six months or longer showing that the person has been here for the last six months uninterrupted, a proof of registration from the Census Department, an SZV Card, or a copy of a residence or work permit.
Preparations are well underway around the world, including the Americas, to profile the importance of childhood vaccines.
Vaccination Week of the Americas (VWA) 2021, also referred to as World Immunisation Week, will take place April 24-30. This will be the 19th annual VWA and will take place under the theme “Vaccines bring us closer. #GetVax.” During this period public health agencies will aim to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS) will be providing information to the community about the importance of childhood vaccines prior to the start of VWA, during the week and after profiling each vaccine and the benefits that come with each one.
CPS said that according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Vaccination Week in the Americas, and the World Health Organization (WHO), “Immunisation saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Yet, there are still nearly 20 million children in the world today who are not getting the vaccines they need, and many miss out on vital vaccines during adolescence, adulthood and into old age.”
VWA includes the participation of 45 countries and territories in the Americas.
Immunisation prevents illness, disability and death from vaccine-preventable diseases, including cervical cancer, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumonia, polio, rotavirus, diarrhoea, rubella, and tetanus.
Meanwhile, six persons reportedly had recovered from COVID-19 on Thursday, April 22. No additional positive COVID-19 cases were recorded, thus bringing the total active cases to 18.
St. Maarten’s total number of confirmed cases is now 2,212.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is monitoring 17 persons who are in home isolation. One patient remains hospitalised at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at 27.
The number of persons recovered since the first case surfaced in St. Maarten has increased to 2,167. There are 46 persons in quarantine based on contact-tracing investigations carried out by CPS.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Airport Health Team in collaboration with Health Care Laboratory St. Maarten (HCLS) has tested 2,680 travellers arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and CPS has tested 26,322 persons throughout the community.
CPS assures that as the numbers continue to fluctuate, it will continue to actively execute its contact-tracing measures.
VSA Minister Omar Ottley reminds everyone to remain cautious when in public. “Do not let your guard down, as COVID is still active. For your safety, wear your mask, practice social distancing and sanitise or wash your hands frequently,” he said.
The Ministry of Public Health VSA Collective Prevention Services (CPS) said on Thursday that one case of the Indian COVID-19 variant has been found on the island.
Based on the latest information, this Indian variant may be responsible for the resurgence in COVID-19 cases experienced in India and neighbouring Pakistan. As a pre-emptive measure, the decision was taken to place India and Pakistan on the list of banned countries effective April 20.
In collaboration with local laboratories and the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM, samples were sent to the Netherlands for COVID-19 genotyping. The samples sent were from the past two weeks and genotyping results show that 93 per cent (38) were the British (UK) variant of concern, five per cent were the New York variant of interest and one was the Indian variant of interest.
With several COVID-19 variants circulating on the island, CPS is calling on everyone to continue to be responsible and to follow the public health measures that will keep our cases at a manageable level.
Continue to wear your mask, wash your hands for 20 seconds with water or use hand sanitiser that has 60 per cent alcohol, and maintain social distancing of six feet.
Vaccines are a critical tool in the fight against the COVID-19 virus and there are clear public health and lifesaving benefits once you are vaccinated.
Members of the community are reminded to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found via
https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb
Both the Cole Bay and Dutch Quarter Community Help Desks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist with registration on the spot. They are open from 8:30am to 12:30pm Monday to Friday. You must bring a form of identification when you visit the helpdesk.
The paper-based “COVID Vaccine Registration Form” can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors’ offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.
If you have a friend, parent, neighbour, or relative who may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, please do your part. If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email
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Organisations that wish to inform their staff about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination programme via an information session can send an email to
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