The Ministry of Health this week received its first shipment of the
H1N1 vaccine. But the news tonight is that if you don’t work in the medical
field or if you aren’t an Immigration, Customs, or Police Officer –
you aren’t eligible to receive the free vaccine. The Ministry of Health
gave the reason why at a press conference this morning.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Director of Health Services Dr. Michael Pitts says the H1N1 threat still exists.
Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
“It is almost as if H1N1 went off the radar. The truth is that this
disease continues to affect populations across and while we’ve moved from
the initial scare, certainly there are still concerns in terms of the natural
history of these diseases.”
And that is why the Ministry of Health has acquired eight thousand H1Ni vaccines
for first line responders.
Dr. Michael Pitts,
“At this point we got 8,000 doses and that amount is to deal with
the priority group number one which are essential workers. This is sufficient
for us at this time to cover our priority group one. As funds become available
over time, we will approach the other groups. The priority group one is the
group that covers essential workers in the country and these are the people
who I identify as the first line responders in terms of H1N1. So basically we
are saying that let’s try and make sure these first responders are at
least covered because those are the same people who will have to be there available
to cover the rest of us.
The first line responders basically, we look at three or four principal 
categories; healthcare workers, we look at Immigration, Customs, certainly we
look at BDF and police.”
Michelle Hoare is the Focal Point for the Influenza Pandemic.
Michelle Hoare, Focal Point - H1N1
“Yesterday actually vaccines were being distributed throughout the
different health districts. Sensitization continues in the different health
districts, the administration of vaccines start as of yesterday. Vaccinating
the priority group is not mandatory, it is voluntary so based on the receptiveness
of these particular group then depending on what is left over, the Ministry
of Health will have to make a determination as to how best to utilize the remaining
doses of vaccine.”
The eight thousand vaccines will not be available to the general public –
at least not yet.
Dr. Michael Pitts,
“From our vantage point we have this 8,000 and we are using strategically
for the first line responders. We are not imposing on anybody. We are advising
that listen we have something safe, we believe you are in a priority group,
this can offer protection and to that extent we will sensitize you along that
way and make it available. If you choose not to then you will be at risk like
anybody else who hasn’t had the vaccine.”
The second priority group will be pregnant women and third will be
those persons suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes. The Ministry
of Health is providing the vaccines free of cost but they were purchased for
$15. One injection gives a lifetime of immunity. There have been 47 confirmed
cases of the H1N1 virus in Belize.
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