A PAN American Health Organization official has said the organisation does not recommend using vaccine supplies for booster shots at this time, saying the doses should be used to increase vaccination coverage.
The statement from Dr Jarvis Barbosa, assistant director of PAHO, came after The Bahamas rolled out its COVID-19 vaccine booster programme about two weeks ago.
He said it was important to recognise the effort that The Bahamas and many other countries are making to increase people’s access to COVID-19 vaccines. More than 151,000 people have been vaccinated in The Bahamas.
However, on the issue of a third booster shot, he said: “It’s much more important to use these doses to increase the coverage.”
He also said: “Following the recommendation that PAHO has made, it’s very important to increase the coverage in the population and to make the third dose for that group that... are 60 or older and for any people that are immunocompromised.”
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health rolled out the first phase of its COVID-19 booster shot campaign for people 60 and older. On Monday, boosters were made available for everyone over the age of 18.
Those who received Pfizer or AstraZeneca second doses six months ago and the Johnson & Johnson one-shot jab two months ago are eligible for a booster shot.
Yesterday, another PAHO official said the group has never recommended PCR, antigen or any other test requirement to enter a country regardless of the variants that are circulating.
Dr Jairo Andres Mendez Rico made the revelation yesterday when asked for PAHO’s opinion about some countries not asking for a negative PCR or vaccination card for travellers considering a new variant of concern.
Dr Rico said the tests are not foolproof and may give a false sense of security.
“PAHO, we have never recommended PCR or antigen or any other test requirement to enter a country regardless of the variants that are circulating. This is not an efficient measure even with very sensitive techniques such as a PCR negative test may be seen in a person even though this person may be infected at a time in the infection where the virus is incubation and so it has non-detectable levels. So a negative result prior to a travel does not preclude that person is infected by the time the person reaches their destination. In addition, there can be a sense of false security that will lead (to) relaxing public health measures and therefore public health efforts should be focused on implementing public health measures on concern such as physical distancing.”
His words come after Dr Darville announced on Tuesday that some new testing rules at the border may come soon.
Comments
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
Ha ha. My my. 🙏 Health monitizing by medical medical scientists are dumber than us civilians who have a knack for reading. PAHO and WHO have trouble getting the message together with 4C.Tge world is tired.
ohdrap4 2 years, 5 months ago
I have seen multiple comments on sociao media about people who will not keep taking boosters.
Yet, the ad on the radio says Johson and Johnson is "one and done". Shame on the govt to advertise so.
bahamianson 2 years, 5 months ago
Yea, increase vaccination coverage if people want the vaccine. Why should people wait on other people whom do not want to takenthe vaccine. Give the vaccine and boosters to the people whom want them. Dont wastentimenon people whom are still on the fence about whether they should take anything.
John 2 years, 5 months ago
CDC is now advising people NOT TO TAKE The Johnson and Johnson vaccines. They say the J & J vaccine causes an unusual clot in the brain that can lead to death. CDS suggest the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should be taken instead when available. The CDC says blood clots are increasing, especially among young women .
ohdrap4 2 years, 5 months ago
ONE AND DONE, says the radio ad.ONE AND DONE.
I read somewhere a few weeks ago that J&J was going to be discontinued. So taking that now is like buying expired milk.
But they still have thousands expiring in 2 weeks.
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
Phyzer damaging children's hearts. I don't know why Minnis dem refused to give ear to Bahamian Nurses who unceremoniously was only allowed to sqweek out that caution should be used for vaccines not thouroughly tested but given emergency use authorization. More people died during the vaccination year 2021 than during the non vaccination year 2020. And now the data on healthy children who are never in danger of covid death but could take it home after vaccination is out. Loving parents would never put their child at risk. Like tossing them in the ocean, some will live and some will die.
https://www.rt.com/usa/543487-cdc-hea...">https://www.rt.com/usa/543487-cdc-hea...
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
Covid deaths 2021 surpasses 2020 prevaccination
https://www.rt.com/usa/536788-covid-d...">https://www.rt.com/usa/536788-covid-d...
JokeyJack 2 years, 5 months ago
In other words, don't do it now. We will tell you when it's time for your nineteenth booster shot.
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
WE NEED TO GET ALL OF THESE W.H.O. AND P.A.H.O. FOREIGN TALKING HEADS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY AND TELL THEM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS TO STOP MEDDLING IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
WE HAVE LISTENED TO THESE BUREAUCRATIC IMBECILES FOR FAR TOO LONG AND LOOK WHERE THAT HAS GOTTEN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM. THESE W.H.O. AND P.A.H.O. BOZOS RULE THE UWI MED SCHOOL WHICH IS WHY SO MANY OF OUR UWI TRAINED MEDICAL 'DOCTORS' AND 'NURSES' ARE SO DEFERENTIAL AND SUBSERVIENT TO THEM.
THEY THINK THEY ARE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY AND REALLY NEED TO BE TOLD BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO "BUTT OUT!"
ohdrap4 2 years, 4 months ago
I am hopeful for this govt. There has been shuffling of some Dr. LOCKDOWNS.
But, they are persistent and now put these pAHO to pontificate in the newspaper.
When the lion strikes in the circus, they send in the clowns.
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