Blood clots seen in people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine are not linked to the jab, the chief medical officer says.
Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache told a Ministry of Health Press conference this week that health care officials are on the lookout for clots linked to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is being administered locally.
“And so far, even though we have had instances where people have had clots, we have determined through further investigation in terms of the blood picture that those clots were not typical of those associated with AstraZeneca,” Keizer-Beache said.
“Neither of these persons had the blood pictures. For example, the low platelet count and the other features typical of clots associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine,” she said.
She was speaking at a press conference in which health officials, again, urged people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to get vaccinated against the virus, which has claimed 12 lives in SVG.
Minister of Health, St. Clair Prince told the press conference that there has been an increase in COVID-19 deaths and complications in the country, decreasing compliance with mask use, an alarming trend of mass gatherings, and low vaccine uptake.
“And this is taking place while we are having all of this happening and disinformation — reports of deaths due to vaccines in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are absolutely incorrect.
“No person, there is absolutely no evidence that anybody has died from vaccines here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
He said that the vaccination drive, which began on Feb. 14, continues and AstraZeneca vaccines are available at any of the active clinics or health centres.
He noted that SVG received its second shipment, 21,600 doses, from COVAX on May 25, and the government is working to secure additional doses as well as additional doses of the Sputnik-V.
So far, 20,324 vaccines have been administered in SVG, 13,902 being first doses, and 6,432 second doses.
Some 16,167 people in SVG have been fully vaccinated, the minister told the press conference, adding that the ministry’s surveillance team is working on providing the disaggregated data.
“As we continue to work our way up to 70% immunity, I take this opportunity to encourage my fellow Vincentians to get vaccinated. This gives our bodies the internal protection to reduce transmission and significantly reduce severity, which could result in hospitalisation or death,” he said.
“I’d like to reiterate what we are thinking about COVID and how we are responding. We, in the Ministry of Health, and indeed the government, have the responsibility to remind you that COVID-19 is still a very real and dangerous disease. Million have died, millions more have been hospitalised around the world. This, of course, has put considerable pressure on the various health systems around the world, and, of course, the various economies.”
The health minister said there are people in SVG “who feel that the government has some sinister agenda to vaccinate Vincentians.
“The only agenda we have is the continued good health and social and economic well-being of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I appeal to all to ignore the negative noises and educate yourself about COVID-19 and vaccinations. See what’s happening around the world. Read for yourselves.”
Prince continued:
“There are people who are anti-vaxxers for all kinds of reasons, whether it is religious, political or just plain ignorance. You need to look at it yourself and see what you need to do. Your best defence against this scourge is an adherence to the protocols, washing and sanitising of hands, wearing of face coverings, avoidance of crowds, and, above all, get vaccinated. Vaccines are available, they are accessible, they are free and they are safe. We will continue to fight this battle in the interest of the safety of all Vincentians.”
Since March 2020, SVG has 2,068 cases of COVID-19 as of June 4. Of those cases, 1,845 have recovered, and 211 remain active.
The numbers you’re reporting do not add up: “So far, 20,324 vaccines have been administered in SVG, 13,902 being first doses, and 6,432 second doses. Some 16,167 people in SVG have been fully vaccinated, the minister told the press conference, ” How can 16,167 people possibly be fully vaccinated if only 20, 324 vaccines have been administered, including 6, 432 second doses? Or are there currently 10,000 people in SVG who were fully vaccinated elsewhere or received at least one dose elsewhere?
I have lost faith in the CMO.
1. The MOH said that the version of Astra Zenca that we were given was not the same being administered in Europe. That being said do you expect identical clinical findings related to clotting effect in the vaccinated.
2. A person complained of numbness on the arm that they received the vaccine. Then fatigue and malise- was dead from a blood clot( according to the autopsy) a week later. They had no history of blood clots.
3. By your words, Astra Zenca is associated with irregular blood clotting; are you then going to issue a directive for persons with a history of blood clotting and irregular platelets to be properly advised of the risks to their life before taking the vaccine! Then it also raises another issue- why is the government making vaccination mandatory when there are pockets of persons who live additional years if they DID NOT take the vaccine
4. SVG has limited medical capabilities so too they have limited diagnostic abilities. I find it incredible that you can’t diagnose an ailment in the living but you are an expert on identifying, definitively, the CAUSE of death. This raises another question, are our priorities and resource alignment in order?
4. Same way we defy convention and kept our ports opened and never shut down for Covid, which in itself signalled that ,1. Covid was not a serious threat to the lives of Vincentians or 2. It was a threat, but keeping the economy afloat was more important than the lives of Vincentians.
This to me is the highest level of ignorance, when a minister of health is encouraging our people to take this trial drug or so-call vaccime and tells us not to listen to the negatives and anti-vaxxers; when increasingly the international news media is reporting all the adverse effects and deaths caused by these so-call vaccines.
We are also informed by the prevailing science that 80% of people contracting the virus is asymptomatic. Walking in the open athmosphere without a mask is very safe and yet we are harrassed by the government to take the trial drug and to follow all these protocals.
Leader of the CDC of the USA, Anthony Fouci is now being investigated and is said to ne in close communications with billionaire Bill gates. This same Bill gates who visited our shores recently and did not go through the protocals set up for all visitors. What is this hidden agenda that is being forced upon our people and the people of the nations???
THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVALE! IN JESUS’S NAME! AMEN!!!
A very special country with very special people? Well all those people around the world who had that problem should have come here to take their AZ jab. so when I take the vaccine and may God forbid if any problem like that to manifest it self, even though I never had that problem, it will be said its not that? the manufactures has already distance themselves, . and so are you all.. Who will ever believe you? that’s why I am scared after seeing and hearing what’s happening in other countries and now hearing what you are saying, no thank you. I will die one day, but think I will live a day longer not knowing my fate after taking that experimental jab.
It is a sad thing when you cannot trust public officials. I have heard of 5 people now that have died within 48 hours of getting vaccinated in SVG. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY DIED FROM THE VACCINE, but… It may be too difficult to believe that we hear about thousands of people that died from vaccines in the world but ZERO in SVG?
Even in the past days news from the USA there are people that get gun shots but listed as dying from Covid-19. Anyone believing all the Covid-19, (corporate-sponsored) news in the world, without hesitation, I have a golden palace in Florida to sell you. It seems the main goal IS NOT HEALTH, but vaccines!