WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Wednesday said it had launched a new platform aimed at easing the severe shortage of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean by producing them within the region.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Nurses stayed away from work at several hospitals across Jamaica on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after a virtual meeting between Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton and the executive of the Nurses Association (NAJ) is reported to have ended in a stalemate.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Consultant epidemiologist, Professor Peter Figueroa, says all World Health Organization (WHO) authorized coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, have, largely, proven to be safe and effective in preventing persons contracting the disease from becoming seriously ill or dying.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Health authorities Tuesday warned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic situation in Grenada had become “serious and very dire” and reiterated appeals to the population to get vaccination in order to curb the further spread of the virus that has now resulted in the country having 267 active cases including a five month-old baby.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana, worried at a rapid increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the past few days, are urging citizens to get the second dose of the available vaccines so as to complete the process and protect themselves and families against the Delta variant.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaica is to receive its first shipment of 200,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, with children and adolescents to be given priority access.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Health on Sunday confirmed reports of a shortage of medical oxygen across the island.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government on Sunday made an adjustment to the new COVID-19 protocols to enable places of worship to accommodate 20 people for services .

 Miami, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) is offering appointments for the Pfizer[1]BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson’s Jannsen COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is available to individuals 12 years of age and older while the Johnson & Johnson’s Jannsen vaccine is available to individuals 18 years of age and older. The vaccines will be offered by appointment at the following locations:

MIAMI —The Tropical Park COVID-19 testing site has expanded its hours and is now open 24 hours a day for PCR testing. Currently, the County is averaging over 24,000 COVID-19 tests per day and Tropical Park is one of the sites with the highest demand. The new schedule will increase access to more community members during the school year, make it more convenient to those with demanding work schedules, and reduce wait times.  

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Wednesday confirmed 22 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and promised to keep the population updated on the situation.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – With less than a tenth of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to come forward to get the jab as the government seeks to reach its goal of vaccinating 700,000 persons by the end of next month and 65 per cent of the population by 2022.