{"id":977,"date":"2020-11-30T21:08:12","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T21:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/?p=977"},"modified":"2020-12-04T00:16:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T00:16:16","slug":"health-department-gives-details-on-distribution-drill-for-arrival-of-future-covid-19-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vi.gov\/covid\/news-post\/health-department-gives-details-on-distribution-drill-for-arrival-of-future-covid-19-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Department Gives Details on Distribution Drill For Arrival of Future COVID-19 Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS \u2014\u00a0During the Government House weekly press briefing on Monday, Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis provided some details on the distribution drill the Department of Health is conducting this week in advance of the expected arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Using a \u201cmock\u201d vaccine, the Department of Health drill involves testing the ordering, delivery and reporting of receipt of the Pfizer vaccine in the Territory during the first of three phases, according to Dr. Ellis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cSpecific to the Territory is the redistribution of the vaccine from facilities with ultra-cold refrigeration to providers who will administer the vaccine,\u201d Dr. Ellis said. \u201cTwo facilities with ultra-cold refrigeration units on St. Croix and St. Thomas will act as \u2018hubs,\u2019 or places where the vaccine will be stored. Six of the 15 healthcare providers who signed up to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program will be \u2018spokes\u2019 in the drill where persons would be able to receive the vaccine.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Department of Health has collaborated with federal and local partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the Virgin Islands National Guard to carry our the \u201chub and spokes\u201d logistical approach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When the Territory receives the actual vaccine, populations deemed critical will be vaccinated during the first phase and include clinical staff, first responders, persons with immunocompromised conditions and those in long-term care facilities,\u201d Dr. Ellis said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The subsequent phases will include the elderly, behavioral health patients \u2013 specifically the chronically homeless \u2013 and incarcerated persons, with the vaccine expected to be available to the wider general population in the Spring 2021, she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Boating and masks<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

During the briefing, Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said Governor Albert Bryan Jr.\u2019s COVID-19 Task Force is re-evaluating the guidelines regarding boaters and the requirements for masking while they are at sea.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe task force is re-examining the policy to determine whether adjustments at this time are warranted,\u201d Director Motta said. \u201cBear in mind that everything we do is ultimately for the protection of the public health of Virgin Islands residents. Our regulations are already considerably less stringent than other boating destinations in the Caribbean.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Unemployment<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n