ANTI-VACCINE sentiment is slowing the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Despite this, the effort by health authorities to vaccinate at least 70% of the population continues and Minister of Health St. Clair “Jimmy” Prince says we must overcome the negative.

“In all, the team has been doing a wonderful job in dealing with this (COVID-19) emergency.

“The vaccination drive continues throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines with priority being given to health care workers, those over 65, persons with pre-existing conditions and educators,” noted Prince on Monday while speaking at a ceremony at the Victoria Park at which the ministry received EC$100,000 worth of medical equipment from the St Vincent Brewery Limited. He said also that the ministry is hoping to vaccinate as many persons as they can in the La Soufriere red zone in the event of an eruption that makes an evacuation necessary.

The minister said that up to press time, 9464 persons had been vaccinated including Chief Medical Officer Dr.Simone Keizer- Beache and prime minister

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves who both took Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine along with 18 other persons. The majority of vaccinated persons have taken the Covishield (Indian) AstraZeneca vaccine.

Prince also revealed that a shipment of Sputnik V will soon be delivered here and there are over 400 persons registered to take this brand.

Persons have been requesting Sputnik V because of the fact it was taken by the PM.

The minister, while encouraging persons to get vaccinated, said also that persons should adhere to the protocols in place to fight COVID-19.

“Though we have started to vaccinate people we are not getting rid of the protocols,” he stressed while speaking about social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing and sanitizing.