PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Since the Vaccination Management Team (VMT) announced two weeks ago that children 12 years and older are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19, over 500 children received their vaccine.
The VMT also reminds the public who have not yet received or registered for their COVID-19 vaccine that the vaccination campaign will transition into the maintenance phase starting August 1st.
This means that all residents of Sint Maarten aged 12 and older can freely walk in at one of the vaccination administering locations to receive their first or second shot for another 1,5 weeks. The vaccine will be available in the maintenance phase, but not in the walk-in format and only on specific days and times.
With the current level of vaccination coverage, Sint Maarten will remain vulnerable to new outbreaks. This is especially important now that the Delta variant has been detected on Sint Maarten.
The VMT cautions everyone to be highly critical of (mis)information spread via social media or from sources or persons without medical expertise. Instead, only trust information from credible, trustworthy sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) gathered through extensive scientific research.
The Delta variant is twice as contagious as the Alpha (British) variant and thus spreads much faster. The Delta variant is not more lethal, is detectible with a PCR test, and the symptoms are comparable to the other variants.
The Pfizer vaccine has been shown to provide 88% protection against the Delta variant. Additionally, almost all active cases or hospitalizations on Sint Maarten consist of unvaccinated persons, and not one person on Sint Maarten has died from receiving their COVID-19 vaccine.
For the remainder of July, you can walk in at the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) at the Vineyard Office Park from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday.
In addition, the Belair Community Center across from the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), is open for walk-in from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Thursday.
The VMT also advises the public to be on the lookout for the next vaccination Pop-Up in one of the nearby communities.
Protect yourself, your loved one, and Sint Maarten, and get vaccinated!
Sint Maarten Protected Together.
