MONTEGO BAY, St James — Some 190 front-line workers were vaccinated in this parish yesterday, part of an islandwide roll-out of the vaccination programme launched exactly one year after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on the island.

Regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority Errol Greene was first in line to get the jab in the parish. He was vaccinated at 8:00 am at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH).

“This morning I was privileged to be the first in the region to receive the vaccine. I am encouraged by the level of support given so far by the regional technical director Dr Diane Campbell-Stennett and her team. They have worked overtime, and tirelessly, to put together the logistics to make this morning possible,” said Greene.

Director of nursing services at CRH Chilean Legister, who was also in line to become vaccinated, noted that the entire nursing staff at the hospital is on-board with the vaccination drive and relieved that the day has finally come.

“We are in full support of the vaccination and we are happy to be a part of the programme because certainly you would have heard about what is happening in terms of the number of cases and the loss of some of our colleagues,” Legister said.

Certified emergency nurse Shellomie Golding, who works in CRH’s Accident and Emergency Department, was thrilled to be the parish’s second person to get the vaccine.

“We all want to go back to our regular lives, so we have to take the step to become vaccinated as we continue to fight this COVID-19 virus. If I can play my part, by becoming vaccinated, then I am going to play my part. I am really happy that the vaccine is here,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Golding explained that while she understands the general public’s scepticism of the vaccine she hopes everyone will get vaccinated.

“There are persons who are at higher risk, like the elderly, and we are the ones introducing this virus to them. So, go out and take the vaccine so we can eradicate the virus and get back to enjoying life without COVID-19,” she urged.

Parish manager of the St James Health Department Lennox Wallace, who was first in line to get the jab at the Type Five Health Centre, was happy to “lead by example”.

“It was a smooth process. I was mentally prepared for it and I think I have the best set of professionals here to administer the vaccine,” he said. “I would just like the public to know that, when it is their time, they will receive the same professional treatment as I have received here this morning.”

Today’s vaccination roll-out, Wallace said, was oversubscribed as all 540 health-care workers at the Type Five Health Centre expressed their interest to be first in line.

“If my own professionals have shown that level of interest, then I believe that the general public will do likewise,” said Wallace.

Thirty-one year-old pharmacist Jermaine Harris, the youngest person in line to receive the vaccine yesterday, explained that he decided to get the jab because of the alarming number of COVID-19 cases in the parish.

“You see the state that we are in right now, the public health sector is suffering, and the spread of the virus has been rampant. We need to put a dent in it, and we need to eliminate this virus. So that is why I’m leading by example by coming out to take this vaccine today,” said Harris. “I am also the youngest person at the J&J Pharmacy, here in St James, and I feel privileged to be the first person from my pharmacy to be vaccinated.”

“It was a seamless process; I feel no different than how I felt this morning. I feel good, and I am looking forward to the second dose,” Harris added.

Each person has to get a booster shot in 21 days.

Jamaica’s first shipment of 50,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from India arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, on Monday. In St James, 100 doses were yesterday distributed from CRH, 60 from the Type Five Health Centre, and 30 from Sandals Inn.