In the first segment we told you all about vaccines - but the big personal question for most of us is: should I get it?
The experts are saying yes in across the board endorsements for the necessity and efficacy of the vaccine.
Tonight we take a deeper look at the challenges of acquisition in what may be the greatest logistical feat in memory.
There have been 314 COVID-19 deaths since the virus reached Belizean shores last March. It's a small number in comparison to the death tolls of other countries in the region but for a tiny country like ours, it remains quite a stark figure.
It's a situation that can only be combatted once we reach community or herd immunity, a mark that, if achieved naturally, is projected to cause as many as 7,000 COVID-19 deaths.
That's where vaccines come in. But is the vaccine safe for you and your family and if you do decide to get it should you have a preference for a specific vaccine?
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist
"Vaccines are safe, okay, are relatively safe okay, everything has its potential risks something as simple as Tylenol, Oxygen can hurt you, believe or not. So there are some adverse reaction to vaccines, but all in all it's safe it's effective and I would encourage, ask, plead to tell every Belizean to seek their vaccinations when the time comes. I will vaccinate myself, for sure I will be the first one to stand up in that line, be it AstraZeneca, be it the Sputnik."
And while Cuellar is ready for even the Russian Jab that's a vaccine that's not yet approved. But that shouldn't stop our efforts to try and secure it. And this morning Public Health specialist Dr. Marcelo Coyi told us why that is.
Dr. Marcelo Coyi, Public Health Specialist
"We have enough vaccines for 30% of the population but there is another 30%, 40% that we need to get vaccines so it is incumbent upon the government to go and search for those other vaccines that we need. In a concurrent way while approval is being gotten. You can't say well, we'll look for a vaccine once it's been approved because then you're down the line if you're gonna do it sequentially so you have to look for all these vaccines, and then when it's approved then we're gonna use it but it has to be looked forward and try to get as many available vaccines as is possible but they'll only be given when it's approved these strict regulatory bodies."
And in the race to secure these life-saving vaccine countries like ours are at quite a disadvantage leaving over 30% to 42% of our population unprotected and at risk.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child health
"I think the evidence is clear that we are dealing with a disease that is causing severe illness hospitalizations and deaths and if this disease could be prevented with a vaccine well that is the best option for anybody, governments around the world have decided that it's best to fight the pandemic by herd immunity through vaccination and not waiting until 70% or 85% of the population is ill risking these persons to die unnecessarily from a disease that could be prevented with a vaccine."
Melissa Diaz - Acting Director of Health Services
"We're asking persons out there that once the vaccines have arrived in the country and it's time for them to receive the vaccines to take up that opportunity, to go in and get vaccinated because this is one of the ways that we can help our economy to return as quickly as possible and we are going to do mass education campaigns with regards to the vaccines once they are in-country, and we are also going to educate the public with regards to where to go, how to get the vaccines as quickly as possible, so we're asking the general public for cooperation with that."
That education campaign starts now but really ramps up on Monday with the rollout of the first 1000 doses. 100,000 total doses are expected and when they do get here, it will be up to you to make an informed decision about whether or not to listen to the experts and to the science.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal and Child health
"What the world is saying is that we only can be safe if all of us are safe. What they are certain of with all the vaccines COVID-19 vaccines is that it reduces the severe illnesses COVID-19 vaccinations and death, so it is COVID-19 vaccine saves lives and that is the objective."
The experts also remind us that post-vaccination, mask wearing, physical distancing, wiping down surfaces, and hand washing will still play a big role in reducing the number of COVID cases and their resulting deaths.
