Official: Haiti sees rise in COVID-19 cases; few vaccinated

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti is preventing an increase in COVID-19 instances as the federal government struggles to persuade individuals to get vaccinated, the nation’s well being minister instructed The Related Press on Tuesday.

The nation of 11 million individuals has reported greater than 28,500 confirmed instances and 780 deaths, though specialists say they imagine the numbers are underreported given the widespread lack of testing.

In response to the World Well being Group, greater than 204,900 vaccine doses have been administered in Haiti, however the native authorities notes that just some 75,500 individuals have obtained two doses, with no boosters but given.

“Sadly, the inhabitants confirmed no enthusiasm. ... We dwell in a land of non-believers,” mentioned Lauré Adrien, basic director of Haiti’s Ministry of Well being. “The vaccination marketing campaign is progressing slowly, not on the desired tempo.”

He mentioned one other drawback is that some well being facilities don't have any vaccines whereas others have a surplus that goes unused.

“We're working arduous to higher handle demand and be certain that stock is used effectively and equitably,” he mentioned.

Up till mid-July of final yr, Haiti was the one nation within the Americas that had not obtained a single vaccine dose.

Adrien mentioned he believes the omicron variant is current however mentioned he was unable to supply any proof as a result of Haiti doesn't have the required laboratories or assets to hold out that type of particular testing.

As a substitute, he mentioned the federal government is compelled to ship a small group of samples to Brazil to check for the omicron variant and that it takes a very long time to acquire the outcomes. He added that samples taken from individuals believed to be contaminated in December and January are nonetheless being processed.