by Linda Straker
- Donation on 15 December was approximately 70,000 Pfizer vaccines
- Earlier in the year, almost 30,000 vaccines were donated
- Grenada in a very favorable position in its response against Covid-19
Honourable Peter David, who accepted a recent batch of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines from the US Government on behalf of Grenada, described the initiative as a clear indication of the healthy relationship the country currently shares with the US Government.
“The donation of almost 100,000 vaccinations to the People of Grenada is not simply a gesture but a clear way of the United States helping us with our economic development.” David spoke during a handing over ceremony at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA). Earlier in the year, almost 30,000 vaccines were donated, and the donation on 15 December was approximately 70,000.
Pointing out that Covid-19 has had a devasting effect on all, David is of the opinion that vaccination is the only solution to solving the pandemic. “The effects are not only on the lives of the families who have died but on the economy and our livelihoods, and it is universally accepted that the easiest and most available solution is vaccination,” he said.
Dr Shawn Charles, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health said this second donation will allow Grenada to be in a very favorable position as the Ministry continues its response against Covid-19. “As we look to the future with the emergence of other worrying variants this is a significant boost to the health security of Grenada and it goes a long way towards ensuring that everyone is protected.”
“Everyone at the end is protected in some way, either by the direct protection received by those who received the vaccine and the herd protection that is gained when we have a significant number of persons who are vaccinated in the community,” Dr Charles said.
David Schnier Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy to Barbados described the donation as a true symbol of the friendship between Grenada and the USA. “This is a true symbol of our friendship, a concrete symbol of our partnership because we are all in this together. Too many Grenadians have died here, in the United States and all around the world,” he said.
“No one is safe until everyone is safe. So, it is the determination of the Biden Administration to share our vaccines with the people of Grenada and the people all around the world through the COVAX mechanism and bilaterally,” Schnier said at the ceremony.
Because of the donation, Grenada can now vaccinate all of the remaining eligible citizens and give booster shots with the Pfizer vaccines, marketed under the brand name Comirnaty.
Please get the Pfizer vaccines to protect yourselves – do NOT let them expire !!! More Grenadians need to believe in science and health and reject being confused about important issues .
Regarding the comment above that the Pfizer vaccine needs to be kept at “the REQUIRED -90C to -60C.”…..This from CDC.gov…”Pfizer-BioNTech has submitted data to FDA supporting the stability of their COVID-19 vaccine when stored for up to one month (31 days) at 2°-8°C (standard refrigerator temperature).” So, I’m not sure where -60C to -90C came from, but it is a LONG way from the truth.
Is those thermal shipping containers on the hot, sunny tarmac? Ones packed with dry ice (that kept the Pfizer vaccine ultra-cold at the REQUIRED -90C to -60C degrees) while Peter David posed for photos?
I don’t think any third countries had to pay/buy any covid vaccine and that would be the case worldwide due to the need of all the members of the G7 who are the main sponsors of these vaccine.
The real test will be the booster which in my opinion is the REAL test as they had sufficient time to do trials on that vaccine since 2019.