THE HAGUE - Enough vaccines have been purchased for the Caribbean islands of the Kingdom to vaccinate everyone. The Dutch Undersecretary for Health Paul Blokhuis wrote this in a letter to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Monday.
The actual implementation and precise timeline is determined by the approval and delivery of the different types of vaccines. But Blokhuis sees no objections. He therefore assumes that vaccination on the islands can start from mid-February.
Blokhuis answers questions from Dutch Member of Parliament Antje Diertens in response to the article 'Uncertainty about vaccination date BES and CAS' that recently appeared in the media.
Blokhuis also says that since October, work has been underway with the islands on preparations for the supply and administration of various vaccines to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Both the countries and the public entities have drawn up implementation plans that take into account the different scenarios and include logistics, infrastructure and personnel. Cold chain equipment has been purchased for -80 ° C, -20 ° C and 2 to 8 ° C in preparation for the different types of vaccines. This equipment has since been delivered to the islands.
Diertens, who previously also had questions about the welfare and treatment of undocumented migrants in Curaçao, now also wanted to know to what extent it is possible to vaccinate them as well.
Blokhuis writes about this: "The islands and countries indicate that they are very aware of the importance of also vaccinating these people and have included this issue of undocumented migrants in the implementation plans. These plans are currently being tested by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)."