Health
COVID Vaccines on the verge of Expiration and Dumping
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, August 20, 2022 – The Turks and Caicos‘s islands have a very high rate of vaccine driven herd immunity but low booster uptake is putting it at risk and the islands may be approaching a vaccine dump if citizens remain reluctant; with some doses just over a month from expiring.
This is according to Acting Minister of Health E. Jay Saunders who explained that herd immunity occurred when 70 to 85% of a population was immune to a disease. Based on initial vaccination the islands would’ve been well above the threshold needed to secure herd immunity but compared to those early numbers barely anyone is taking their boosters.
There are 30 288 fully vaccinated individuals in the Turks and Caicos but only 7,272 are boosted; this is around 23 percent of the vaccinated population.
In terms of those who are double vaxxed the numbers are even lower, only 2,939 or around 9 percent of the population.
This is dangerous, Saunders said as it has been proven with COVID-19 vaccine that they have a tendency to wane over time and the majority of islanders were vaccinated more than 6 months prior- meaning lower efficacy.
It also means valuable doses are going to waste. When the Turks and Caicos’ COVID-19 booster program was rolled
out on October 4, 2021, the country was at the end of its fifth tranche of vaccines from the UK which was some 5,850 doses.
Between October and December a sixth and seventh round of vaccines were delivered to the islands from the UK.
While the government did not say how many doses were included in the sixth batch, the seventh had over 9,300 doses and another batch was delivered in February according to deputy Governor Anya Williams.
Each shipment of vaccines from the UK usually has exceeded 5,000 doses. Now, in August a little over 10,200 booster shots have been administered.
Dr Jeremy Myers, Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Human Services confirmed that certain doses were set to expire in September.
“Doses in Providenciales actually expire at the end of September. We do know, especially coming back to back to school some people traveled recently. We do strongly encourage, while you are doing your back to school shopping, to get a back-to-school booster.”
Uptake is also low for pediatric doses, (children under 5) with only 162 children being vaccinated with the first dose and only 128 receiving a second dose. The acting minister did not give an update on the 5 to 11 age group which also received vaccines earlier this year.
Expiry dates for purple-capped Pfizer vaccines which the UK provides to the Turks and Caicos were extended an additional three months from their initial six month shelf life provided they were kept in the prescribed temperature and conditions. Orange-capped vaccines which the island utilizes for young children and grey-capped vaccines have a shelf life of one year. No Pfizer vaccine regardless of storage condition or dosage should be used after 12 months.
Turks and Caicos Islands have dumped Covid-19 vaccines before; nearly all of the 300 doses of AstraZeneca branded vaccines received in March 2021 expired due to low interest in the product.
Expiry dates are calculated based on the manufacture date and therefore must be discarded 12 months after being produced.
“We’re doing very badly as a country with people taking their boosters.— if you’ve been vaccinated try to get your boosters every six months,” urged Saunders.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
May 8th, 2024 – After millions of people took the AstraZeneca vaccine as their choice of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization announced on March 5, that it is withdrawing its vaccines from the market worldwide, effective as of May 7 as it was reported to cause side effects.
It is said 170 countries received doses of AstraZeneca; it was expected 35.3 million doses would be shared with 36 Caribbean and Latin
American countries through the COVAX program, according to PAHO.
First reported by the Telegraph, the side effects are identified as blood clots and low blood platelet counts. In fact, the medical issues have reportedly been linked to 81 confirmed deaths in the UK alone. Many others are suffering some other medical injury due to the vaccine popularized as an answer to the then new virus.
AstraZeneca is also being sued by more than 45 affected people.
The vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, the Telegraph informs, can no longer be used in the European Union and it will be the same for other countries and the UK in the coming months. Over 17 million doses made it into EU countries.
Reports say AstraZeneca made the revelations of the side effects in court documents, adding that the withdrawal of their vaccine is also due to a decrease in demand.
Photo Caption: Public Health Nurse, Patricia Coates (left), administers Daniel Adams’ first dose of the AstraZeneca coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, during the second COVID-19 Vaccination Blitz at the National Arena in St. Andrew, on Saturday (April 3).
JIS photo from 2021.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 8th May 2024: A case of malaria has been identified in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The individual is presently stable and receiving treatment. The Public Health team is currently conducting further investigations, however, initial findings indicate the case may be imported. The Ministry of Health and Human Services is working closely with its stakeholders to respond to this finding.
Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another. It is preventable and curable. However, without prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, a case of uncomplicated malaria can progress to a severe form of the disease, which is often fatal without treatment.
There are five species of Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat. Not all Anopheles mosquitoes have malaria, but if they bite a person with malaria, they can become infectious.
Symptoms
Malaria symptoms range from very mild illness to severe disease and even death. The first symptoms of malaria usually begin within 10–15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Early symptoms can include:
- Fever and flu-like illness
- Chills
- Headache, muscle aches, and tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur
If not treated quickly, the infection can become severe. If Plasmodium falciparum malaria is not treated within 24 hours, the infection can progress to severe illness and death.
Severe symptoms can include:
- kidney failure
- seizures
- mental confusion
- coma
See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if:
- you are experiencing any of the symptoms of malaria, and
- you have traveled in the last year to or from an area where malaria occurs
Only a healthcare provider can diagnose malaria. A lab test via microscopy and/or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) will confirm malaria using a small sample of your blood.
Prescription drugs can treat and cure malaria.
Prevention
Persons traveling to countries where malaria is endemic should take precautions to prevent infection including taking chemoprophylaxis (use of medications to prevent infection).
For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page onhttps://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.
Health
Successful Community Kidney Screening Events Hosted by InterHealth Canada – TCI Hospital and Ministry of Health and Human Services in Grand Turk and Salt Cay
(Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, April 19th, 2024): – InterHealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Human Services, is delighted to announce the successful completion of the Community Kidney Screening Events held in Grand Turk and Salt Cay. These events marked a significant milestone in promoting kidney health awareness and early detection.
On April 12, 2024, on Grand Turk (Dillon Hall) and April 13, 2024, on Salt Cay (Ministry of Health Clinic), participants had the opportunity to receive immediate screening results and personalized guidance from dedicated healthcare professionals. The collaborative effort between InterHealth Canada-Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Human Services empowered individuals to prioritize their kidney health and take proactive steps towards well-being.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, CEO of InterHealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, shared, “We are happy to see the positive impact of the Community Kidney Screening Events in Grand Turk and Salt Cay. By providing accessible screenings and expert guidance by our clinical teams, including our nephrologist and internist, we equip individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their kidney health.”
Similarly, Dr Camelia Clarke, Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, expressed her satisfaction with the outcomes, stating, “These events have showcased the importance of early detection and preventive care in maintaining optimal kidney health.”
The support of sponsors, including the TCI Boating Club, Air and Sea Agency, The Olympic Group Limited, Flow and Digicel, played a crucial role in the success of the Community Kidney Screening Events.
InterHealth-Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Human Services are excited to announce that a series of Kidney Community Screenings with dates for Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos, and South Caicos will be revealed soon, further extending the impact of this important initiative.
The Community Kidney Screening Events in Grand Turk and Salt Cay have set a solid foundation for ongoing efforts to prioritize kidney health and well-being within the community. Together, we are taking proactive steps towards building a healthier future for all.
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