TCI Cabinet approves 5-11-year-olds for Vaccine

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, January 15, 2022 – It is now approved, children as young as 5 years old can be vaccinated against COVID-19  in the Turks and Caicos Islands. A report from the Cabinet confirmed the decision, which was not unexpected, had been approved as official on January 5.

Ahead of the Cabinet approval, Jamell Robinson, Minister of Health & Human Services informed, “One of the things we would definitely look at is expanding that age range to the 5 to 11 because it is found that it is safe for that age range as well, if we can get a higher vaccination rate amongst the school-age population then we would feel more comfortable with face to face.”

Many governments are vaccinating children in the 5-11 age group with booster shots now approved by the FDA for immune-compromised children in the group.  Public Health England has also approved the measure after months of deliberation on the necessity of child vaccinations against Covid-19.

Experts globally are however questioning the science to support this decision by governments.

In a recent press conference held by the TCI Ministry of Health epidemiologist Dr. Shandey Malcolm spoke about the number of children actually getting infected since the start of the pandemic.

Dr. Malcolm said, “In terms of demographic characteristics… 8 per cent of cases were in the 0 to 9 age group and 16 per cent of cases were in the 10 to 19 age group.”

In the same press conference Dr Denise Brathwaite Tennet, CEO of the TCI Hospitals spoke about juvenile cases since July. She said, “There have been no children with confirmed covid19 during the month of December and our youngest age since the wave started in July was 18.”

More recently, a week ago, a 9-year old child was reportedly in hospital due to symptoms from Covid-19.  The Ministry says, this rare event demonstrates children are at risk.

Despite the local data revealing a low instance of child cases and virtually no hospitalizations, Health Minister Robinson explained the decision is designed to keep the most vulnerable, which includes TCI children, safe.

A student vaccination campaign was on Thursday (January 13) announced by the Ministry of Education; it is expected to launch on January 24, 2022.