The Ministry of Health & Wellness last Thursday made public its new online tool to register the elderly and shut-ins for vaccination against COVID-19.
“The tool, which is currently accessible through the Ministry’s website, is intended to support efficient planning for the complete vaccination of the elderly and disabled shut-ins who are unable to access the COVID-19 vaccines at designated sites islandwide due to mobility issues,” explained Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
The tool, the Minister said, is designed to provide data to determine the demand and geographic distribution of those requesting a home or institution visit for COVID-19 vaccination. No personal health information will be collected.
“This online form is completed for each elderly or disabled shut-in, who is seeking to be vaccinated. The tool allows the person completing the form to indicate that the person being registered is in an institution or a private home,” Dr. Tufton noted.
The Parish Health Department will review the geographic distribution of the registrants and make contact by telephone in order to confirm an authentic request and to schedule and undertake the visit to the home or institution to administer the vaccine.
The Ministry continues to encourage Jamaicans to get vaccinated to prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and/or death associated with COVID-19. There are currently two vaccines in country: the two-dose AstraZeneca and the single-dose Johnson and Johnson. Both vaccines provide protection against the deadly COVID-19.
Up to 3:00 pm today, the island had recorded 799,415 doses of vaccines. Of that number, 510,397 were first doses, 258,268 were second doses and 30,750 were single doses.