GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – Everyone who received their first dose of theCOVID-19 vaccine three weeks ago at the White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) and the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), is scheduled to receive their second dose this week or next week.
Three weeks ago, when the vaccination campaign started on Sint Maarten, the WYCCF and SMMC administered their staff and clients with their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. After that, the WYCCF continued for another week with the first registered persons 60 years or older. This group will receive their second dose this week or next week. If you were in this group, your next appointment at the WYCCF or SMMC will be at the exact same time and date as it was three weeks ago.
It is very important to complete your vaccination, because one dose alone does not provide full protection against the COVID-19 virus. One week after receiving the second dose, the protection that the vaccine provides is at its maximum level of 95%.
If you are unable to attend your second appointment, please call the WYCCF or SMMC to reschedule your appointment. The dose is reserved for you and cannot go to waste. Please don’t forget to bring your vaccination passport & identification with you to the appointment.
In the meantime, both other vaccination locations at the Collective Prevention Service (CPS), and the Belair Community Center are still open and receiving people for their first dose. The Vaccine Management Team (VMT) is happy to see that the number of persons registered for the vaccine is steadily increasing and passed 8.500 on Monday, March 15.
The VMT says that we’re not there yet and thus continues to encourage everyone who hasn’t registered, to do so, even if it is not yet your turn to receive one. If more people register, the vaccination rate can be scaled up, and moved to the last two priority risk groups.
Registration can be done via the online registration form which is available in English, Spanish and Creole and can be found via this link: https://forms.sintmaartengov.org/form.aspx?v=OGtn05kNmb.
Both Cole Bay & Dutch Quarter Community Helpdesks are currently equipped to provide information and can assist in registration on the spot. Do not forget to check the opening hours and bring a form of identification. Lastly, the paper-based “COVID Vaccine Registration Form” can be picked up at several locations, including CPS at the Vineyard Office Park Building, the Division of Labor Affairs at the Simpson Bay Public Service Center in Simpson Bay, Doctors’ offices, the Government Administration Building, and select pharmacies.
If you have a friend, parent, neighbor, or relative that may need assistance with registration, transportation, or emotional support, please do your part. If you need help with the registration process, your appointment, or wish for more information about the vaccination campaign, you can also call CPS at 914 or email: vaccination@sintmaartengov.org
Sint Maarten, protected together.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Head of CPS Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, recently received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
