Barbadians now have a second option in vaccine selection as the island Tuesday (June 29) received 30,000 Sinopharm vaccines from the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Currently the island has been administering the Astra Zeneca vaccine only from donations by the COVAX facility and India.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George advised that despite concerns the vaccines are safe to use even for pregnant women and those who may be immunocompromised.

“These vaccines are safe and efficacious […] This kind donation adds an alternative choice to the vaccines readily available in Barbados.”

George advised that the Sinopharm vaccines can even be given to those who have already contracted COVID.

“This is an exciting time, and again, I urge people in communities across this island to seriously consider getting vaccinated. This is really one of our major hopes with respect to combatting COVID,” he said.

While Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic noted that though vaccines are not readily available to smaller markets he was very pleased with the donation by the Chinese.

“We are very happy and glad to not only rely and depend on you but to partner with you. The arrival of the Sinopharm vaccines is something that we have been looking forward to because as you know vaccines are not readily available to small island developing states.”

To date Barbados, through its vaccination campaign has inoculated 24.3 per of its population.