Kingston, 14 July 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that the sport sector will benefit directly from vaccines now in the island and from more which will come in tomorrow.

The Sport Minister said:

“Six Hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine have come as donation through the efforts of the former coach of the Reggae Girls, Mr Hugh Menzies, and 300 more doses will arrive in the island tomorrow through the efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith and the Chairman of the National Health Fund, Mr Howard Mitchell.

These vaccines are specifically for the use of the sport sector and I really want to thank Mr Menzies for securing the 600 doses primarily for the Jamaica Premier League.

I am happy to report that the majority of athletes going to the Tokyo Olympics have been vaccinated with only a small number who has not been. Now with the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, all can be fully vaccinated before going off to Japan. Athletes who are not vaccinated will be treated differently in Tokyo from those who are and this could negatively affect their activities.

Those who are not yet vaccinated know themselves and I know them too and so I am reaching out and making a special appeal to them to get their jab.”

Meantime, Mr Mitchell said he was pleased that the NHF was able to contribute to the vaccines being available by facilitating customs clearance.

Arrangements are in place for vaccinations to start at the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, University of the West Indies, tomorrow, July 15, at 1:30 p.m.

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