The Ministry of Health and Wellness will be concentrating efforts this weekend, on completing the vaccination process for Jamaicans who have been given the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

According to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, who was speaking at the weekly coronavirus (COVID-19) press online conference on Thursday (July 1), health officials want to achieve approximately 25,000 vaccinations when the process is completed on Tuesday.

Tufton said the process will only be for individuals who were administered the first dose between eight to 12 weeks ago and will be done at 20 sites across the island.

He said the emphasis will be placed on these Jamaicans, with the island logging behind in the administration of the second dose of vaccines, because of a shortfall, which has resulted in panic by some members of the public.

“We regret the inconveniences, the frustrations, the anger that all of this caused and it’s not our intentions to create a similar scenario, but the truth is the conditions were out of our control. Vaccines are difficult to come by and it’s not a Jamaica problem, it’s a global problem,” Tufton said.

He, however, believes the 65,000 doses of vaccines that the island received from the Government of Mexico earlier this week, will help to alleviate the problem and complete the second dose for those who are due.

Meanwhile, Tufton said that individuals who are due the second dose will have to make an appointment. This can be done through the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ website or by calling the COVID-19 hotline.

According to Tufton, individuals visiting the sites for the second dose of vaccines must have the vaccination card, taxpayers registration number (TRN) and a Government of Jamaica identification, which can be substituted by a letter from a Justice of the Peace.

“Take the vaccination card and an ID. It’s important because we know that there is going to be a temptation to persons to come to get the first dose or maybe to even get a second dose under the eight-week period, because there may still be some residual feeling of concern or even panic, that when these supplies run out, there won’t be any other,” Tufton said.