Haiti To Return 250,000 COVID-19 Vaccines To COVAX Facility

On Wednesday, Haiti’s Multisectoral Pandemic Management Commission (MPMC) announced that it will return 250,000 Moderna vaccines that will expire on Nov. 6 to the COVAX facility since health authorities have not been able to implement a massive immunization campaign.

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"We wish that other countries with more advanced immunization campaigns can take advantage of these vaccines,” the MPMC Vice President Jean Pape stated. In return for this devolution, in late October, Haiti will receive 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines that expire in 2022.

As of Oct. 13, only 0,6 of the Haitian population had received a first dose of the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and 0,2 percent of the citizenry had been fully immunized against coronavirus.

"Each time, the population finds more excuses to deny the existence of the virus and not get vaccinated," said Pape, recalling that a study conducted in this Caribbean country showed that 87 percent of the inhabitants say they know no COVID-19 case. 

Skepticism stems from the manipulation campaigns that antivaccine sectors develop on social networks and the scant promotion made by the State to the immunization campaign.

“The Haitian government has not set an example to its people. So far, no political leader has been vaccinated," Pape stressed and urged them to redouble efforts to prevent COVID-19 contagions.

As of Oct. 15, this Caribbean country had reported 22,827 coronavirus cases and 649 related deaths, two of which occurred on Wednesday.