WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao wants to be ready before the start of the hurricane season (June 1) with the vaccination of everyone over the age of 18 in Curaçao. Minister of Health Zita Jesus-Leito said this during the press conference this afternoon.
The Netherlands has guaranteed the islands of the Kingdom that they will receive the vaccines on time, as long as there is no delay in the delivery by the suppliers. The intention is that Curaçao will start vaccinating in the third week of February. Initially, everyone over the age of 65 and healthcare workers will be vaccinated.
“The way we work assures us that our country will be safe. This way we can move more freely,” says the minister.
Irálice Jansen, a healthcare professional who accompanied the minister during the press conference, says that hard work has been done. In the weekend of January 21 there was a visit from the Netherlands. “We start with the group of 60 plus and nursing staff. That 60 plus group consists of almost 40,000 people. The nursing staff consists of 3,500 people. Then comes the group of 18 plus, which consists of more than 153,000 people.
According to Jansen, there must come a time when the community accepts the vaccine and allows itself to be vaccinated. Almost everyone who works in healthcare in the Netherlands has had themselves vaccinated.
The next week there will be simulations. Vaccinations will start in the third week of February. People will be actively approached. More details will be announced next week.
A study has been carried out into public support and also specifically into a case of death that would be associated with the vaccination. People who are in their final stages of life should avoid getting the vaccine, says Jansen.
Vaccination will take place in the old hospital building, the SEHOS.