UN in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake and address vaccine hesitancy

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Caribbean was reported on 1 March 2020. While the region has reacted swiftly with non-pharmaceutical interventions to control the outbreak, this has left countries in a much weaker economic position as economic growth contracts, debts rise, and fiscal space narrows limiting governments abilities to support recover and rebuild.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally with the appearance of new variants of concern, vaccinations offer the best hope of helping countries reduce and remove the spread of this virus.

The steady arrival of vaccines in the Caribbean over 2021 has placed countries in a better position now to plan for their recoveries. As immunity from COVID-19 builds, governments have been able to soften restrictions. However, after a strong initial uptake, some countries in the region have been experiencing delays in the acceptance to take the vaccine. This hesitancy is impacting on countries’ ability to plan new vaccine deliveries as well as in timing the re-opening of their economies.

The proposal that will be launched on Friday is a joint effort of the United Nations supporting Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to reduce vaccine hesitancy and expedite the rollout of jabs. It combines the expertise of five UN Agencies – PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, and ITU – under the oversight of the UN Resident Coordinator and with the technical lead of PAHO/WHO to support governments across five pillars of work to reduce:

1. Research and policy options
2. Behavioural change strategies
3. Risk communications and advocacy
4. Strengthening COVID-19 vaccine Rollout
5. Vaccine motivation
6. Monitoring and evaluation

The key outcome expected from this project is for governments to achieve and surpass their COVID-19 vaccine rollout targets to protect citizens against this virus as well as eventually eliminate the transmission of this virus.

Event Overview

When: Friday November 19th, 2021 from 10.30am to 12.05 AST

Where: Virtually via UWI TV  and UN Eastern Caribbean Facebook Page

 

Speakers include:

 Mr. Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean

• Dr. Yitades Gebre, Resident Representative PAHO/WHO
• Hon. St. Clair Prince, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Hon. Nickolas Steele, Minister for Health and Social Security, Government of Grenada.
• Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Government of Antigua and Barbuda
• Mr. Clinton White, Resident Representative, USAID
• Ms. Jennifer Heys, Head of Cooperation, Global Affairs Canada
• Mr. Cleveland Thomas, Representative, ITU
• Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, Representative UNICEF
• Mr. Dennis Zulu, Director ILO
• Hon. Akilah Byron-Nesbitt Minister of Health, Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis