Jamaica announces second COVID booster dose for vulnerable groups

An additional booster dose will offer protection from infection and severe outcomes associated with COVID-19, particularly to members of the highest risk group.

Jamaica announces second COVID booster dose for vulnerable groups
Jamaica announces second COVID booster dose for vulnerable groups

Jamaica: The government of Jamaica shared an update on the second booster dose of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Caribbean country is now offering a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers, persons over 60 years old and members of the public with immuno-compromising conditions. The decision follows recent confirmation of the globally dominant and highly transmissible Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants in Jamaica.

An additional booster dose will offer protection from infection and severe outcomes associated with COVID-19, particularly to members of the highest risk group.

Second doses are to be administered as follows:

  • Persons who have taken AstraZeneca are to receive the Pfizer vaccine as the second booster dose four months following their first booster.
  • Persons who have taken a Pfizer vaccine are to receive Pfizer as the second booster dose four months following their first booster.

To receive the booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, members of the public are invited to visit any of the Ministry’s access points for vaccination; persons should take their vaccination card and a government – issued identification or letter from a justice of the Peace.

Members of the public are being urged to continue their practice of infection prevention and control measures, that is washing or sanitizing hands, avoiding crowds wearing a face mask and keeping a physical distance of six feet apart from others.

As a Tuesday, August 17,39,330 persons have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 710, 718 have taken a first dose and 609,015 a second dose.