TCI News
Vaccine for Turks & Caicos expected early 2021, says Premier
#TurksandCaicos – December 7, 2020 – The UK on November 13 revealed in its House of Commons that all of the overseas territories would receive from its inventory of 350 million doses of coronavirus vaccines when the time comes. The time is here as the United Kingdom begins vaccinations for the virus tomorrow, having ordered a 40 million dose batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Turks and Caicos is a British overseas territory and Premier Sharlene Robinson, during Saturday’s PDM rally talked about what the emergency decision by the UK to begin inoculations means for Turks and Caicos.
“Only this week, the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to approve the Coronavirus vaccine paving the way for mass vaccinations. The first doses are already on their way to the UK with 800,000 due in the coming days. We are continuing our discussion with Public Health England and there is no doubt that TCI will be a part of the roll out in the new year,” explained the Premier and Finance Minister who also forecasts Turks and Caicos will return to pre-Covid levels by end of 2021.
It is no surprise that the TCI Cabinet agreed to accept the offer of vaccines.
The UK has made significant investment in its overseas territories’ public health programs in the fight against the coronavirus. The House of Commons learned that support to the tune of $33.5 million USD has been spent on the 260,000 cumulative residents of the OTs.
“The Government has accepted the recommendations from the Independent Medicines & Health Care Products Regulatory Agency to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for distribution across the United Kingdom. After months of clinical trials involving thousands of people to ensure that the vaccine meets the strictest internationally recognized standards of safety, quality and effectiveness, thanks to the fantastic work Kate Bingham and the vaccine’s task force, we have purchased of more than 350 million doses of seven different vaccine candidates,” said Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister on December 2.
The country’s Chief Medical Officer confirmed, in a recent Ministry of Health press conference that the vaccine would be free.
“We do have a draft immunization strategy, explained Dr. Nadia Astwood, TCI Chief Medical Officer, in response to our question in a press conference held in mid-November.
“In that strategy we are also including the communications strategy to ensure that the public is aware of the vaccine and our plans for the distribution. It’s not mandatory; the vaccine as it is going to be brand new (and) we are entering into an agreement where we are able to get 20 percent of our population covered.” There are mixed feelings among islanders about taking the vaccine. The Premier, at the rally, reminded that the Covid-19 vaccine will be voluntary.
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Health
PAHO/WHO Representative for Bahamas and TCI and Technical Team Conduct Official Visit to the TCI
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 15 April 2025: The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of an official three-day visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands by a technical team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Office in The Bahamas, held from 8 -10 April 2025.
The visiting delegation included:
- Dr. Eldonna Boisson, PAHO/WHO Representative for The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Dr. Anton Best, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Health Systems and Services.
- Dr. Sasha Peiris, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination.
During the visit, the team engaged in a series of high-level meetings with the Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services, the Acting Permanent Secretary of Health and Human Services, and senior officials from various departments and units within the Ministry of Health and Human Services. Meetings were convened in both Grand Turk and Providenciales. The delegation also visited Cockburn Town Medical Center, where they toured the facility, including the Primary Health and Dental Departments and interacted with staff.
The highlight of the visit was the recognition from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) of the Turks and Caicos Islands for its exceptional efforts in the surveillance, prevention, and control of respiratory viruses over the past ten years. The country was awarded for its collaboration with the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARINET) and the REVELAC-1 network. This recognition highlights the islands’ leadership in early detection, prevention strategies, and effective outbreak control, underscoring the importance of global partnerships in addressing future health challenges.
The primary objectives of the visit were to:
- Identify and reach consensus on common strategic priorities and focus areas for PAHO’s Technical Cooperation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Discuss the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of key programme areas under the PAHO Biennial Work Plan 2024–2025.
- Align strategic objectives with one or more of the nine (9) targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” as well as other health-related SDG targets.
- Provide technical updates and support on ongoing health projects and programme initiatives, and those planned for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Speaking on the significance of the visit and the award, the Hon. Kyle Knowles Minister of Health and Human Services, stated:
“We are extremely pleased to welcome our partners from PAHO to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This visit reflects our shared commitment to strengthening our local health system and improving the well-being of our people. We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our decades-long collaboration with PAHO, which has been instrumental in advancing key health initiatives across our islands. Through continued partnership, we remain committed to building a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality health system for all.”
This mission forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to foster strong partnerships with PAHO/WHO and other regional stakeholders. These partnerships continue to play a vital role in the development and execution of key health policies, strategies, and plans that aim to enhance the health and well-being of all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: MOH team Grand Turk L-R (Ms. Crivanne Adams, Ms. Betty Ann Been, Ms. Leanne Sills, Dr Alicia Malcolm, Ms. Kendra Malcolm. Dr Astwood, Dr Camelia Clarke, Dr Eldonna Boisson, Mr. Andre Morgan, Dr Janice Baron, Mr. Lynrod Brooks, Dr Sasha Peiris, Dr Sasha Walrond, Dr Anton Best, Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton.
1st insert: Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles, Dr Eldonna Boisson
2nd insert: CMO Dr Astwood and PWR Dr Eldonna Boisson
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