Front line workers in Antigua ordered to take COVID booster shots
Antigua and Barbuda’s government mandated that all frontline workers take their booster shots of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
In a statement today, the government said: “The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, acting through a round-robin system, today decided that all frontline workers are required to move to receive their booster vaccine shots immediately. Those men and women who have underlying health conditions that make them most vulnerable to infectious diseases are also encouraged to take the booster shot immediately.”
“The Cabinet seeks to strengthen the defence of the Antigua and Barbuda nation by ensuring that the omicron variant of the Covid-19 disease can meet with a strong readiness.”
Frontline workers, who received their final dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine between May and July, can receive their boosters in December and January 2022. They will be entitled to receive a shot of AstraZeneca or Pfizer.
In August, those inoculated with Pfizer can receive a booster of AstraZeneca or Pfizer in February 2022.
Persons inoculated with Sinopharm in July 2021 can receive their booster in January 2022.
The booster shots will be administered at the Villa Polyclinic and Multipurpose Centre from January 4, 2022.
The government said these additional shots of the COVID-19 vaccine provide Antiguans and Barbudians with the best chance to fight off infection from the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.
“The best defence against the COVID-19 disease has been the several vaccines which have been deployed globally. The new variant requires an additional jab to strengthen the waning immunity of the previous two-shots vaccines,” the government said.
Approximately 59.7 per cent of Antigua and Barbuda’s population are vaccinated against COVID-19.
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