Private Medical Practitioners in the Virgin Islands (VI) can now begin offering both doses of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health and Social Development. Photo: GIS

The MoU also comes as health authrities found that persons were unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19 unless the shots are given by private doctors, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) had disclosed. Photo: VINO/File

The agreement was signed on April 8, 2021, and according to information coming out of the Government Information Service, the MOU will also allow for qualifying residents to receive the vaccines free of cost or at no additional cost to the National Health Insurance.

Practitioners who signed the MOU included Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool on behalf of Bougainvillea Clinic Private Hospital and Eureka Medical Clinic; Dr Ronald E. Georges on behalf of VI Medical Clinic; and Dr Mitchel E. Penn and his wife on behalf of Penn Medical Center Incorporation.

More Providers to ink MoU

In the coming days, several other providers are scheduled to sign the MoU where Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms Tasha K. Bertie stated that this opportunity will allow the convenience for a wider group of the Virgin Islands’ population to consult their private doctors and get vaccinated. 

Since the start of the vaccination drive, the government of the VI has been pleading with the population to get vaccinated, which would pave the way for the territory to achieve herd immunity and facilitate the full re-opening of the economy.

The MoU also comes as health authrities found that some persons were unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19 unless the shots are given by private doctors as revealed by Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL).