BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 04, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – As authorities and health professionals continue their diligent work to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr Honourable Timothy Harris said they are forced to fight “another pandemic best described as misinformation.”
Prime Minister Harris, who was at the time addressing the nation during his press conference on Thursday, June 03 at the NEMA Conference Room, was referring to the numerous attempts by some using traditional and social media platforms to disseminate false information regarding the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“False information willfully and maliciously peddled by some locally and abroad to retard the progress we have made for their own personal agenda and selfish short-term political gains must, of course, be condemned,” the prime minister said.
Notwithstanding these malicious intentions, Prime Minister Harris commended the 28,980 persons over the age of 18 who have so far stepped forward to take at least the first shot of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
Dr. Harris said, “They did the altruistic act of getting vaccinated not just to protect themselves but to protect all of us.”
Going forward, the honourable prime minister said his Government will continue its vaccination education drive and provide vaccines free of cost for the people.
“Our public education on COVID-19 has been the most elaborate and convenient, engaging persons in their communities, at churches, at their workplaces by regular briefings and through hotlines. We have adopted an all of society approach and everyone’s constructive effort is always welcomed. The Task Force has engaged every interested party including sport associations, hoteliers, political parties, among others. Ours is a life first strategy,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Prime Minister Harris emphasized that his Team Unity administration will continue its quest to secure more vaccines “so that we can reach the goal of herd immunity in the not too distant future, thus restoring normalcy to our beautiful Federation.”