#Kingston, February 25, 2021 – The Government has reallocated $48.7 million of the funds budgeted for the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine risk mitigation programme to hire additional health staff and improve conditions for workers.
Speaking
at a COVID Conversations press conference on Tuesday (February 23), Health and
Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that the adjustments
were made in light of public concerns regarding the budget and the surge in
hospitalisations resulting from the virus.
Dr.
Tufton informed that the $64.3 million for placement of advertisements on radio
and television has been reduced to $50 million, while the $36.2 million for the
printing of materials such as brochures and pamphlets for dissemination has
been reduced to $26.2 million.
In
addition, the $27.8 million allocated for public education sessions has been
reduced to $20 million and the vaccination training session for staff that was
assigned $19.3 million, is now down to $14.33 million. He noted, as well, that that the $36.2
million budget for research has been reduced by $6 million.
Dr.
Tufton further informed that the $22 million initially budgeted for engaging
the consulting firm, One Integrated, for 12 months, has been reduced to $16.49 million
for nine months, resulting in savings of $5.5 million.
“In
total, we have pulled out a number of the line items that are contained in the
vaccine risk mitigation segment of the budget and have, therefore, reallocated
or are in a position to reallocate some $48.7 million… to engaging more staff
and supporting where necessary, staff motivation and activation in the COVID fight,”
he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister dismissed reports that the Government
had planned to spend $422 million on communication.
“There
was never any $422 million based on what I saw and enquired about, after it was
carried in the public space, which was assigned to communication,” he said.
Release: JIS
Contact: Chris Patterson
