SCORES of senior citizens went to various vaccination sites yesterday to get their COVID-19 booster jabs, some of whom said they took it for increased protection against the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, should it get to our shores.

At St Joseph’s Hospital in St Andrew, 76-year-old Ivan Stephenson said he did not think twice about getting the additional jab.

“The moment I heard the booster was available, I decided to come out today. My view is that it’s a matter of weighing the risk, and nothing in life is guaranteed,” Stephenson told the Jamaica Observer.

“I do believe that if I take the vaccine, along with the booster, in the event that I get COVID-19 I think my immune system will be better able to fight off the coronavirus. I will be able to recover at home instead of ending up in [the] intensive care unit in the hospital,” he added.

Eighty-seven-year-old Vernon Clarke agreed.

“That’s why I am here. It will also make me feel safer from the coronavirus overall. I would encourage everybody to take it — whether seniors or anybody else. They should certainly come and get it,” said Clarke.

Ninety-five-year-old Murdell Richards said, “I have to take it, and I got the go-ahead to do so. I should be more secure from the coronavirus.”

At the same location an 84-year-old woman, who did not wish to be named, said that she had no objection to taking the booster jab.

“They are offering it to this age and I got my two doses already. I am a believer in taking the vaccines,” she said.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old medical doctor Errol Green is imploring others to take the boosters.

“Definitely. We need to keep the antibodies up if you are going to prevent serious infections from COVID-19. Everybody should get their booster so that we can eventually come out of this pandemic,” he said.

At Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre at The University of the West Indies, Dr Praimanand Singh told the Observer that more than 200 people came for booster shots.

“It went well. We had a lot of people showing up for their boosters — mainly it was for the Pfizer. A few health-care workers also came to get theirs. I am suspecting that they’re holding back a little for the senior people to get theirs,” he said, adding that he anticipates a better turnout today.