PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 2nd May 2025 – Vaccination Week in the Americas is celebrated April 26th to May 3rd, 2025, under the theme “Your decision makes a difference”. This year, the campaign focuses on the Disease Elimination Initiative which aims to accelerate the elimination of more than 30 communicable diseases and conditions related to communicable diseases. Eleven (11) of these are diseases that can be prevented with lifesaving vaccines.
The week began on April 26th with a virtual launch hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), our regional partner in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). During the launch, vaccination experts and officials from PAHO congratulated the region on its achievements and encouraged all countries to continue the hard work, particularly those countries which are or have been experiencing outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). Belize and The Turks and Caicos Islands were invited to present their activities for the week because of their focus on the Human Papilloma Vaccine (HPV) and the future eradication of various cancers including cervical cancer.
“The region of the Americas is the world leader in the elimination and eradication of vaccine preventable diseases and has made significant achievements in obtaining and maintaining high vaccine coverages. However, because the Caribbean region offers the world sun, sea, sand, the perfect location and a warm hospitality for travelers, our risk of importation of diseases through travel and trade is increased. Because of this, it is imperative that we continue our efforts to protect our nations. The TCI has a mandatory medical evaluation program for migrants seeking to work in the TCI and this, along with our already robust EPI program has proven effective in the prevention of major spread of vaccine preventable diseases in the past. I wish the team a successful vaccination week. Honourable Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
“Along with our efforts of maintaining high coverages in childhood vaccines, we are focusing on the prevention on various cancers in our most vulnerable group by offering the HPV vaccine to adolescents. High risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against HPV infection and can prevent cervical cancer. The demand for this vaccine is increasing because of its proven effectiveness. We have done an excellent job as a country by achieving an 80% coverage in HPV vaccine, the highest to date in the Caribbean region. I wish to register the Ministry’s thanks to our partners in this life saving good; the parents for recognizing the importance of vaccines, the adolescents who understand accountability for their personal health, the government for always providing the funding needed to procure lifesaving vaccines, the government of Canada for their donations of cold chain equipment that helps us to maintain the efficacy and quality of our vaccines, PAHO for their invaluable support, the various schools that partner with us on this journey, our local partners in health for your support and finally, my hardworking team of public health nurses for reaching every child, every person, everywhere across the TCI to ensure that our country is protected and doing our part in this role. When we protect our country, we do our part in protecting our region and the world. Join us in keeping the TCI VPD free” – Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care and EPI Manager for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For more information about vaccines and to check your immunization status, call or visit your health care provider today. Please also visit our Facebook page for updates
https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.
