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Pfizer, J&J COVID-19 vaccines now available to VI residents

- 12 to 17-year-olds in VI will be given priority to travel to USVI for jabs
Persons in the [British] Virgin Islands opting to receive the Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will now be able to do so through the introduction of the BVI-USVI Vaccination Bubble initiative. Photo: Internet Source
VI Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said the new initiative is in collaboration with the Government of the USVI to reduce some of the challenges that are preventing persons from vaccinating against this deadly disease. Photo: GIS/Facebook
VI Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said the new initiative is in collaboration with the Government of the USVI to reduce some of the challenges that are preventing persons from vaccinating against this deadly disease. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Persons in the [British] Virgin Islands opting to receive the Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will now be able to do so through the introduction of the BVI-USVI Vaccination Bubble initiative.

The Bubble initiative was designed to enhance the current COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, by providing further options and adjusting entry protocols that would support persons wishing to participate. 

Travel to USVI required 

“Interested residents will be required to travel to St. John, US Virgin Islands to be vaccinated as part of this initiative as due to logistical and regulatory requirements, the named vaccines cannot be brought into the Territory,” a release from the Government Information Service (GIS) said.

VI Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone said the new initiative is in collaboration with the Government of the USVI to reduce some of the challenges that are preventing persons from vaccinating against this deadly disease. 

“Some persons did not want the AstraZeneca vaccine and other persons who were not able to be vaccinated for other medical or logistical reasons can now protect themselves with access to the Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines through this initiative,” he said.

Information on the initiative indicated that 12–17-year-olds will be given priority and these individuals must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them.

“If a parent or legal guardian is not traveling with the child, a notarized letter by the parent allowing the person to accompany the child must be presented,” it noted.

Persons to fund cost of trip 

In addition, an official birth certificate must be presented at the time of vaccination to the USVI Department of Health for each child and the child must have a valid passport and ordinarily meet immigration requirements to enter the USVI

“You must be able to fund all costs associated with getting the vaccine including transportation and logistical costs,” the release stated.

The Health Ministry says Interested persons can register by contacting 852-7525 weekdays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. More information on other travel exemptions can be found here.

24 Responses to “Pfizer, J&J COVID-19 vaccines now available to VI residents”

  • 666 (31/07/2021, 14:49) Like (17) Dislike (38) Reply
    Mark of the beast mehson!!!
    • @666 (31/07/2021, 15:16) Like (23) Dislike (15) Reply
      U sure right.
      It’s going to be for a while this is the kick start of the beast system (forerunner)
      Rest assured Jesus is coming with all his glory to put a stop to this destination hell.

      This is where the beast system enrolls (gov ) will follow and put things in place is 2014 this virus was being created unleashed 2019 why ?
      They had to wait in certain signs some ask why now well that’s the answer nothing happens before it’s time.
      Revelation has been opened:..
  • SM (31/07/2021, 15:10) Like (8) Dislike (25) Reply
    Very good take the younsters to be vaccinnated.
  • idiots (31/07/2021, 16:26) Like (7) Dislike (37) Reply
    You trying to tell me you to get the vaccine u have to spend so much money then come back and quarantine tell me why the vaccines can't be sent over to tortola scatter ya'll ass%%
    • The Unvax full of excuses (31/07/2021, 17:15) Like (9) Dislike (19) Reply
      When will Govt step up and stop allowing the unvax or vax haters to eat up all of our medical resources. Time for them to know that decisions have consequences.
    • wnw (31/07/2021, 17:44) Like (27) Dislike (4) Reply
      because the US government won’t permit it - be grateful they are willing to help at all you ungrateful ass.
    • brown (31/07/2021, 17:52) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      They cannot be sent by the US Virgin Islands Government because in America, you cannot send vaccines to other countries if they were bought with federal funds. The US Virgin Islands Government bought these vaccines with federal funds. This is the law over there. Governor Bryan and his Government will be prosecuted by the US Federal Government if they send them to us here.
    • Because (01/08/2021, 01:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Because is US government money buy the vaccine, So USVI cannot give it to another government.
  • Great. This Minister is Working. (31/07/2021, 16:39) Like (14) Dislike (98) Reply
    No more excuses. .Now its time for employers and Govt to get serious with work place protection...
  • WOW (31/07/2021, 17:39) Like (5) Dislike (12) Reply
    You telling me that the vi government could not do what they had to do to get the Pfizer, J&J COVID-19 vaccines here in the vi for god sake antigua do what they had to do to get those vaccine to antigua but these set of thief we have here in the vi only care about stealing the tax payers money for them self, time will tell, and this crap about ferry price $60. dollas one way unbelievable, hurricane irma they take advantage of the situation and now they doing the same thing with covid just remember god dont sleep all
    • (31/07/2021, 22:02) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      What are you on about? Antigua is an independent country and has to purchase the vaccines that they need. The VI is a territory of the UK and has been fortunate enough to get the AstraZeneca for FREE. The VI government shouldn’t have to spend any tax monies just because a few people want to pick and choose which vaccine to get.
      • V0TER #6 (01/08/2021, 09:40) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        THANK YOU. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CONSCIENCE WHAT SO EVER. WHY THE HELL GOVERNMENT MUST PAY FOR YOUR VACCINE WHEN YOU REFUSE WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING YOU
  • Good news, yet many are still stuck in their seat of ignorance, especially some naive so-called christians. (31/07/2021, 17:42) Like (9) Dislike (25) Reply
    Thanks Hon. Minister Carvin Malone and all that have made it posible to add two option anti-covid-19 for us to choose from. But even this helpful effort seem to have no convincing power to chance the minds of some selfish, arrogant, passive-minded persons, that are stuck in their own selfish.
    If these people are so sure that anti-covid-19 are the mark of the beast, why allowed them to work close with vaxxers in the work place. If the unvaxxers, some, become infected by the covid-19 virus, why then should vaxxers risk their own lives to save theirs, when the unvaxxers have blatantly refusing madical help by use of anti-covid-19 method.
    The Bible says that stubbornness is as the sin of witchcraft. But I say that to a proven defence against the killer decease, covid-19 is evidence of a suicidal mind. In spite of the fierceness of the battle, we should never let go of hope. God is life and love.
  • 007 (31/07/2021, 19:42) Like (12) Dislike (16) Reply
    50 first vaccines given on the Festival Ground today. That’s 50 people who now know they are not going to die of Covid.

    Do you know if you will die of Covid?
  • You for real (31/07/2021, 19:49) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do some of you listen to yourself when posting the venom that you do. And you still consider yourself "good people" or take a hint "God's people." Now get a life and a clean heart.
  • Maverick (31/07/2021, 20:05) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    I trust that this will positively affect the territory's well being. However, most people will need government input and this should be a priority. Do the math, what would have been government's cost had they acquired all that's needed to offer the jobs here. Health is everyone's concern, but when it's a pandemic, the government must take full responsibility for its citizens well being.
  • Voter 7 (31/07/2021, 21:36) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have a question how many person actually did a covid test to ensure they dont have covid before taking the vaccine.
    I think i heard the minister say you cant take the vaccine if you have covid and if you have had covid you should wait 28days after before taking that vaccine.
  • CDC (01/08/2021, 01:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    New release guidelines to all vaccinated or non vaccinated
    Anyone attending schools wear mask.


    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has collected data that suggest fully vaccinated Americans who contract the Delta variant carry similar levels of the virus as unvaccinated people who contract the variant.

    The finding suggests that people who have gotten Covid-19 shots and then become ill with Delta can transmit the virus to others more readily than seen with other versions of the coronavirus.
    The hotly anticipated research helped convince the agency to revise its guidance on mask-wearing earlier this week, when it said vaccinated people should wear masks indoors in areas with high levels of Covid-19 transmission. But CDC had not made the data underlying its decision public until now.

    The agency worked with the Massachusetts health department to track a cluster of coronavirus cases in Barnstable County, on Cape Cod, that emerged in the days following July Fourth holiday.

    Seventy-four percent of the 469 cases that CDC investigated occurred in fully vaccinated individuals. Genomic sequencing of samples from 119 of 133 individuals in the study showed they had contracted the Delta variant. The vast majority of the vaccinated people in the cluster — about 79 percent — developed clear Covid-19 symptoms, CDC said.

    Five people in that group were hospitalized, four of whom were vaccinated. But none died, the study found.

    CDC also examined the viral load in 127 of the sick vaccinated people and found it was similar to the level seen in 84 unvaccinated people who contracted the variant. That suggests the vaccinated group was just as able to spread the virus as the unvaccinated group — a finding that prompted CDC to once again recommend that people in areas of high transmissions wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

    By
  • q (01/08/2021, 06:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Take the vacine and live to fiight another day.
  • Hon. Health Minister Carvin Malone, will you update us more often on the ongoing covid-19 virus issue, please. (01/08/2021, 11:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am refering to our current medical status.
    So far, the government, the medical doctors, nurses, health workers, and other helps, that are prolife minded, are performing well. Thank you kindly Hon. Minister Carvin Malone, in advance, for your your wise and positive responce to my humble request.
  • question (01/08/2021, 18:16) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    If I do not have a visa but want to get the J&J!!!!How can I arrange to do so?


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