Julia Richardson, the recipient of the 20,000th COVID-19 vaccination.
PHILIPSBURG--A little over two months after the start of the vaccination campaign in St. Maarten, the country has reached the milestone of the 20,000th vaccination administered to Julia Richardson at the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) office on Monday, April 26.
Richardson went for her first dose of the vaccine and was delighted to be the recipient of the 20,000th vaccination administered in St. Maarten.
“The Vaccination Management Team (VMT) is happy to reach this milestone, yet reminds everyone that we still have a long way to go,” said the VMT in a press release on Monday. The percentage of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in St. Maarten is still not high enough to fight off a possible third wave of infections, which is why the VMT said it has scaled up the vaccination process to reach that goal as soon as possible.
“This has become even more important since we know that most infections are related to the UK [United Kingdom – Ed.] variant,” said the release. The Indian variant has also been detected in the country.
The VMT also expressed delight to see that many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and organisations taking ownership of businesses are requesting an information session for their staff or providing incentives to encourage their staff to take the vaccine.
American University of the Caribbean (AUC) students and SXM ACTION (Aspiring Change to Impact Our Nation) volunteers have frequently offered registration assistance at their information and registration stands at several supermarkets.
“This commitment and support from volunteers, NGOs, and businesses is fundamental because they are the beating heart of the community. If they lead by example and promote it, the VMT hopes that more people will realise that it is safe and the best thing to do for St. Maarten,” said the release.
The VMT encourages everyone who hasn’t registered already to do so. “Even if you are still on the fence, it is still wise to register. If you receive your invitation and you are still not sure, you can always postpone or cancel, but getting the vaccine registration numbers up is very important because the VMT can then show that there is sufficient demand for the vaccine in St. Maarten and secure the delivery of the next batch of vaccines from the Netherlands,” said the release.
Persons can register using the online registration form, which is available in English, Spanish, and Creole, and can be found at
https://forms.sintmaartengov.org
Registration is free and the vaccine is free.
Paper-based “COVID Vaccine Registration Forms” can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Department of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, doctors’ offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.
Walk-ins are now also facilitated at the Belair Community Center between 9:00am and 3:00pm and CPS between 8:30am and 4:00pm for on-site registration and vaccination on the same day.
The VMT also encourages everyone to assist friends, family, neighbours, and loved ones with the registration, as some struggle with the process. “Ask if you can help with registration, transport, or support if you suspect that someone could need it, because only together can we reach our goal,” said the VMT.
Persons who have questions about the registration process, their appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign can call CPS at 914 or email
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