Premier, Minister & Dr Weldon To Get Vaccine
[Updated] There will be two vaccination events on Monday [Jan 11] with the first at 10am, while the second will take place at 1pm, with Premier David Burt, Minister of Health Kim Wilson, and Dr. Carika Weldon set to get the Covid-19 vaccination.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said, “There will be two vaccination events taking place tomorrow, Monday 11 January 2020.
“The first will take place at 10am at the newly created Vaccination Centre, with people who be the first recipients of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine which arrived in Bermuda on Friday evening. Dr. Heather Armstrong, Senior Medical Officer will discuss the vaccination processes in place at the Centre.
“The second event will take place at 1pm at the Vaccination Centre, with the Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, the Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson, JP, MP and the Government’s Scientific Advisor, Dr. Carika Weldon will get the Covid-19 vaccination.”
The spokesperson continued, “The Ministry of Health has created a secondary hotline specifically to answer questions about getting the vaccine and to register members of the public who fit into high risk categories so the vaccine can be administered to them.
“The Ministry is inviting people who are aged 65 years and older to register their interest in taking the vaccine by calling the hotline. The Ministry is prioritizing vaccine recipients by age and vulnerability. People who should call the hotline should fit into the following categories:
“People 65 years and older, with preference given to those who are over 80 years old.
“Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable which includes people who have:
- Immunosuppressant for example chemotherapy or after organ transplant;
- Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE];
- Severe Asthma;
- Severe COPD
“Anyone suffering with:
- Heart disease;
- Chronic kidney disease;
- Liver disease;
- Diabetes.
“The COVID-19 vaccine phone number is 444-2498 – option #2. Operating hours are Monday – Friday 8:30am – 3:30pm.”
Update 7.58pm: The Premier tweeted, “Tomorrow the Covid-19 vaccination programme starts in Bermuda. Min Wilson, Dr Weldon, and I will be among the first to get the vaccine. This is being done as I feel that it is important to combat vaccine hesitancy that leaders are prepared to lead by example.
He added, “My family is highly amused that I have decided to be filmed getting a shot. Those close to me know how I am petrified of needles. I will be brave tomorrow as the country needs me to be, but please don’t laugh at me too much if I have a few false starts.”
Big wigs jumping the queue.
Good for them I can wait and see how they all get on.
Setting an example and helping to refute anti-vaccine fears.
They deserve it and are setting an example to those who are fearful. I am a senior with CKD (chronic kidney disease)and have no problem with those who have helped us so much getting it NOW. By the way ext #2 at the Covid number has an EXCELLENT response team.
Note that this comment above by Trudi Pugh is posted BEFORE 8:30aam on Monday Jan 11th – the advertised opening time of the hotline on Ext #2. How did they get access to a priority list that is not supposed to be available to the general population until much later?
Friends and Family jumping the queue again.
Seriously, are you kidding me right now???
This has go to be one of the most selfish moves I have ever seen a Bermudian politician do!! Why would anyone think this is the correct thing to do?? All of them are young and healthy, and run a very low risk of serious issues if they actually caught the COVID Virus!
They are all selfishly jumping to the front of the line simply because they can, which is despicable when one considers the small amount of vaccine that is on island and how many elderly that have real health issues!!
You all voted for these selfish clowns, and now there could be 3 more deaths because others who actually do need it, could not get vaccinated!!
SMDH!!
To No Nonsense Sherriff … By the way, I did not vote for the PLP but do give them kudos for their efforts in dealing with the pandemic. Perfect? Probably not. But they certainly didn’t have a dress rehearsal.
Sorry Sherriff, I must disagree with you. We have conspiracy theorists and other misinformed people in Bermuda (remember the planned “no mask” protest march?).
With this, our Premier and Minister of Health are showing people (hopefully) that the vaccine is safe and effective. That will quiet most of the naysayers. They are leading by example. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
With all due respects The Minister of Health, The Chief Medical Officer and The Premier can take the Vaccine, and they are within their rights, but they owe it to the public, to say exactly what this Vaccine contains, and a listing of all ingredients that is contained within this Vaccine, Because it’s Peoples lives at stake.
I Don’t care if they have a Hotline set up to answer all questions, This is to serious of an issue not to make this information public, and please don’t give us a list of what you say is in there, give us a certified copy of the manufactures claims of what is in this Vaccine
Mr. Santucci, what you suggest would breach the copyright protection that drug companies hold so dear. No drug company will willingly tell a competitor or the public how do make a drug is makes profit from.
It’s not even a “vaccine” and I wish they would stop calling it that.
Do some research, people.
Ask questions before this is injected into your body.
I’m not anti-vax, but I am anti calling this something that it isn’t. It is not a vaccine!
Well, trufth, I do not know how you define “vaccine”, but both the British Medical Journal and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration disagree with your scientific analysis. See https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n18 and https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine
Dwayne , are you one of the people who believe that this vaccine contains lead , mercury , STD viruses , Monsanto’s Round Up and tracking nano bots?
Do you consider yourself smarter and better informed than Dr Weldon ?
I’m sure that by now she has a serious case of whiplash shaking her head at people who think like you .
guinea pigs……someones got to be.
Why are the premier & min of health jumping this queue?? They are not over 65 or in a vulnerable group? Surely this is wrong?
I fall into the vulnerable category but I’m not part of the elite F&F plan.
Called the hotline, option #2 at 9:35am – “sorry you cannot leave a message as this user’s mailbox is full.”