Vaccination is finally the only way to protect the population. Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal seemed to confirm this by announcing that the vaccination campaign will continue with a second Booster Dose for the most vulnerable in the near future.
Protection of the population
He made this statement at the International Health Day in Nouvelle France on Thursday 07, speaking about the importance of vaccination, especially with the emergence of new variants. “The ministry is working on a second booster dose campaign. As a responsible government that wants to protect its population, we will make everyone a fourth dose. It will initially be targeted at those over 60 and those with special conditions such as dialysis patients, cancer patients, and other forms of serious conditions,” he said.
Sufficient stock for phase 1
Dr Jagutpal compared this fourth dose to the seasonal flu vaccine cycle. In the process, he announced that the country had enough vaccines in stock to start this campaign. “With the stock of Pfizer and Moderna in our possession, we can start the first stage of this new second booster dose campaign. But when we expand it to the general population, we will have to place more orders. The start of the campaign will be announced very soon,” revealed the Minister of Health.
68,000 doses of Sinopharm in stock
However, in Parliament last Tuesday, Minister Jagutpal mentioned, while replying to MP Franco Quirin that 68,000 doses of Sinopharm were still in stock. “As of March 31, 2022, the inventory mentioned 68,800, of which 8,800 doses will expire in June 2023 and 60,000 doses will expire in August 2023. These vaccines are stored between 20C and 80C at the Plaine Lauzun warehouse and in the 5 regional hospitals. Will they be used in this new campaign? Will they be targeted at the vulnerable or the general population? All we know from the Minister is that it will be up to the Vaccination Committee to decide. In his response to this NQP he makes no mention of donations and purchases by Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna.
Vaccination to date
Covid is down and the rate is below 100 on a daily basis. The number of new cases is 88 on April 7. The country has 20 admissions, 17 of which are in regional hospitals and 3 in the New ENT Hospital. Thus, the progress of the vaccination is 1.005, 777 people for the first dose, 971,190 for the second, and 604,456 people for the booster dose.
