Tonight more than 1,500 Belizeans have received their first dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.
And as Phase 1 of the vaccination rollout plan continues, healthcare workers have been joined by those 60 and older and those suffering from Cancer, HIV, and on dialysis in becoming eligible for the jab.
Add to that list a KCMG and former Prime Minister Sir Manuel Esquivel. He and his wife Lady Kathy got their vaccines this afternoon at Belize City's Cleopatra White Clinic and Cherisse Halsall tagged along as an observer. Here's that story.
Today was vaccination Day at the Cleopatra White Clinic. The Flu clinic turned vaccination center is the designated Belize City clinic open to the over 60 for their vaccines.
And among this afternoon's recipients were the Former Prime Minister Sir Manuel Esquivel and his wife Kathy.
We asked Lady Kathy about the precautions she's had to take to keep herself and her husband safe during the pandemic.
Kathy Esquivel, Spouse of Former PM
"We're very careful about meeting, we don't go out anywhere we don't mix with people that are not in our immediate household. When I go shopping Mr. Esquivel waits in the car because I don't want a lot of people coming up and talking to him. After he gets his second vaccine then it will be okay. So we try and my employees harass them to keep their masks on."
But that began to change this morning when the Esquivel's found out that they were immediately eligible to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Kathy Esquivel, Spouse of Former PM
"I was really pleased. I didn't think it would happen so soon and we've been waiting so long."
"We all want to get back to normal and this is the way to do it and of course we hope that other people seeing that we take the vaccine and we get on well, they'll be encouraged to take it."
And this afternoon as the Right Honorable got his first dose he consented to have it documented. Leading even from retirement in what has become a monumental national effort.
His endorsement of the vaccine is that it didn't hurt at all.
Cherisse Halsall:
"Good Afternoon Sir Manuel how was your experience getting the vaccine?"
Rt. Hon. Sir Manuel Esquivel, Former Prime Minister
"I'm still waiting I didn't feel anything."
Kathy Esquivel also took the vaccine and moments later she praised the administering nurse.
Kathy Esquivel, Spouse of Former PM
"They're very professional Nurse Gallego is wonderful, you don't feel a thing. They tell you what you need to know, very professional."
Cherisse Halsall:
"How was that few minutes waiting after, are you feeling any pain at the injection site?"
Kathy Esquivel, Spouse of Former PM
"No, no. I mean there might be some later but right now no."
And while she's waiting to see whether there will be any pain at all Mrs. Esquivel is already looking forward to life after the vaccine.
Kathy Esquivel, Spouse of Former PM
"I think just talking to people we know, I mean we're not gonna be going out clubbing so, but it will be nice to get together with people we haven't seen for a while. I think you need to educate yourself, certainly don't listen to fake news, get your information from people that know. Don't get your information from people that really don't have any expertise."
