An application is being developed to provide individuals with an electronic copy of their certificate of vaccination, upon administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
National Co-Coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign, Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand, made the disclosure, as she outlined the vaccination process, during this evening’s press conference to update the country on roll out of the vaccine.
This comes as 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to arrive on the island this week.
She said while persons would receive a “hard copy” of their vaccination record, authorities were working on “a new app, where you can have your information that you’ve already entered updated, and you would be able to get your vaccination card or certification electronically”.
Speaking on the inoculation process, Dr. Ferdinand said that it was rather simple, adding that persons would be observed by the medical personnel on site, as some individuals may experience discomfort afterward.
“You’re going to have a little wait because when you come in, you’re going to be sanitised, temperature taken; you might have a little talk on what the vaccine is and what to expect. Then you would go to the medical clerk who is going to register [you], and then you will go on to the nurse and have your injection and then on to the recovery area.
“So you will be sitting there and you have to stay at least 15 minutes, and we will observe you and you will observe yourself, of course. Once everything is ok, you will be allowed to leave, but you’re not going to just come in, get a stick and go out,” she explained.
Dr. Ferdinand also suggested that persons bring a snack with them, stating: “So you’re not going to run off right away, so if you don’t eat before you come, bring along something, especially for the elderly, so that you can munch on it through the process.”
NYA PHILLIPS — BARBADOS . GOV . BB
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Adequate Storage Facilities For Vaccines
FEB 7, 2021
Public Health Nurse and Senior Health Sister at the Winston Scott Polyclinic, Rosanette Cooke, affirmed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness has a very adequate storage facility for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. (Stock Photo)
Public Health Nurse and Senior Health Sister at the Winston Scott Polyclinic, Rosanette Cooke, has put to rest any fears about inadequate storage facilities for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, which are expected to be in the island later this week.
Speaking during a COVID-19 update this evening, she disclosed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness has adequate storage facilities for the 100,000 vaccines.
“The Ministry of Health and Wellness has a very adequate storage facility for the vaccines, and generally that facility is monitored every day in regard to the temperature, so that we make sure the temperatures are up to date. Vaccines are usually stored on average plus two to plus eight degrees Celsius. And that is how we monitor our vaccines to make sure they remain viable; make sure they remain in good condition, so then that they can be dispersed to the public.
The Health Sister continued: “So yes, that is what we do making sure that those vaccines maintain that specific temperature, and that temperature is maintained from the point where the vaccines are what we call the cold chain from the point where the vaccines are manufactured…to the process of transporting them right away until they get to Barbados, right away until they’re stored in the Ministry of Health facility, and then right to the point up to inoculation of the patients.”
In the event of a power outage, the health practitioner said the vaccines would not be compromised, adding that the Ministry of Health has back-up generators which are checked and serviced frequently.
JULIE CARRINGTON — BGIS
