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The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA):

Continue to maintain vaccine coverage while fighting the

COVID-2019 pandemic

TRINIDAD, PORT-OF-SPAIN eases. Once a COVID-19 If we fall behind in our im-
— CARPHA is a region- vaccination becomes munization programs we
al public health agency available in the Caribbean, run the risk of recurrence
headquartered in Trinidad CARPHA is assured that the of measles and other pre-
and Tobago which was same care and due dili- viously eradicated diseas-
established by CARICOM gence would have been es. In light of this, CARPHA
leaders in July 2011 and in place in developing the is urging governments to
began operation in 2013. vaccine, as has been in continue to maintain their
They urge their members place for the development vaccine coverage as a
to maintain vaccine cov- of vaccines against respira- matter of priority, so Minis-
erage while fighting CO- tory illnesses.” tries of Health do not have
VID-19. to manage outbreaks of
The Caribbean has long vaccine preventable dis-
Although there is no vac- been a leader among re- eases like measles, while
cine against the novel gions of the world, as our fighting the COVID-2019
coronavirus disease (CO- countries have applied pandemic.
VID-19), vaccinations ease caused by a newly cause the virus is new and high standards in the de-
against seasonal influenza discovered coronavirus. different it requires its own livery of vaccination pro- The World Health Organiza-
and measles are available The virus is transmitted vaccine. Research is cur- grams. While successfully tion (WHO) recommends
to prevent respiratory illness mainly via small respiratory rently underway to devel- maintaining a measles-free annual vaccination, which
and vaccine-preventable droplets through sneezing, op a vaccine. status since 1991, the Carib- is especially important for
disease outbreaks during coughing, or when people bean has also been eradi- health workers and people
the COVID-19 pandemic. interact with each other for Dr Joy St John, Executive cated of endemic small- at higher risk of serious influ-
If vaccination programs some time in close proxim- Director at the Caribbe- pox in 1971, polio in 1994, enza complications, such
are not continued, more ity (usually less than two an Public Health Agency and rubella and congenital as the very young, preg-
people are likely to get sick meters). (CARPHA) states, “Safe and rubella syndrome in 2015. nant women, the elderly
from vaccine-preventable effective vaccines have The health of the general and chronically ill persons,
diseases, thus increasing Given the outbreak of CO- been available and used public improved drastically and for people who live
the burden on the already VID-19 in the Caribbean for over 60 years, and vac- with the vaccinations that with or care for high risk in-
strained health systems. region, it is important that cination remains the most allowed children to survive dividuals.
people take the necessary effective way to prevent in- because they no longer
Coronavirus disease (CO- steps to protect themselves fluenza, measles and other developed severe measles
VID-19) is an infectious dis- and their loved ones. Be- vaccine-preventable dis- infections. Continued on Page 32

Share your message from home

ORANJESTAD — In these
difficult times we would
like to reach out to our
friends abroad who were
supposed to spend their
tropical vacation on Aru-
ba or who had to break up
their vacation due to the
COVID-19 situation. Aruba
Today invites you to send batoday.com). Please do tional purposes without
us your picture and words note: By submitting photos, compensation.
expressing your memory text or any other materials, Today we share a wonder-
of our island or your dream you give permission to The ful message from Phyllis
vacation for the future. Aruba Today newspaper, Rubin. She wrote: “We have vacationed on Aruba 40 times and our most
Caribbean Speed Print- “We were only there for favorite time of year at Barceló is just after Christmas
Send us your picture(s) to- ers and any of its affiliated 4 days before everything through early January. This year we decided to have a
gether with completing companies to use said ma- was being shut down. SANDMAN celebrate the new year with all the happy
the sentence: Aruba to me terials, as well as names, Can't wait to come back beach goers. See you soon!”
is …….. (Email: news@aru- likeness, etc. for promo- next year!” Mary Jane Heavey