The medevac helicopter brought the vaccines over from St. Maarten and, like the previous time, Dutch Representation Office in Philipsburg head Chris Johnson (right) came along. At hand to receive the Moderna vaccines were Public Health Department head Dr. Koen Hulshof, vaccination programme coordinator Tedisha Gordon (left), Island Governor Jonathan Johnson (second left), Commissioner Rolando Wilson (second right) and ICS handling agent Bob Morgan.
SABA--Saba received the second batch of Moderna vaccines on Friday, March 19. The second round of vaccinations will start today, Monday, March 22.
“We are proud of the large number of people who came out during the first round to take their vaccination and we are encouraging everyone to come for the second vaccination against COVID-19 … to get the maximum level of protection. This will also help to protect the youth and others who are not vaccinated,” said Public Health Department head Dr. Koen Hulshof.
In the first round, 1,330 persons were vaccinated, more than 85 per cent of the adult population, which is a very high percentage. Health authorities hope to reach 90 per cent after the second round.
Saba received 1,400 vaccines from the Netherlands. Together with vaccines left after the first round this is enough to give persons their second vaccination and to vaccinate those persons who now want to start.
The vaccines were transported by airline KLM to St. Maarten, from where they were taken to Saba on the medevac helicopter. Vaccination will take place for a full week, March 22-29, again at Eugenius Johnson Center in Windwardside.
People can come to take their second vaccination on the same day and the same time as the first round of appointments. People need to bring their identification (ID) and vaccination card. Persons who were vaccinated last month at The Home in the first round are asked to come to the same location 10:00am to 1:00pm Wednesday, March 24, for their second vaccination.
Persons who were vaccinated on Saturday in the first round are asked to come to Eugenius Johnson Center on Monday, March 29, for their second vaccination. People who missed their first vaccination and would still like to be vaccinated can pass by 2:00-6:00pm Monday, March 29. These persons will be able to receive their second vaccination in April during the catch-up. The free bus service to and from the vaccination location will again be available.
Instead of three vaccination stations, there will be two permanently manned stations at Eugenius Johnson Center, with a third station on stand-by when it gets busy.
The same crew as last time will be working at the location. “We will be providing the same great, friendly service that people experienced during the first round,” said nurse Lisette Riley, Saba Health Care Patient Care manager. The vaccination programme is a joint effort of the Public Health Department and Saba Health Care.
After the second vaccination more people are expected to have the usual side effects. The side effects will not necessarily be worse per individual, but a larger group probably will experience them. The side effects, like the ordinary flu vaccination, can include muscle pain, headache, a sore arm, feeling tired and possibly even a fever for one or two days.
“Having as many people as possible vaccinated contributes to a safer island and creates the prospect of return to some normalcy,” the public entity said.
