 Former governor-general of St. Lucia, Excellency D'Empollet-Louisie, recently took the COVID-19 vaccine and encourages all to do the same to protect themselves, their families and others. Excellency D'Empollet-Louisie spoke on her personal decision to get vaccinated and the experience of doing so. It was a breeze. I've been vaccinated before, smallpox, and I think I was vaccinated for malaria once when I traveled to Africa. And I mean, it was nothing more than going doing your blood works, you know, just going to the lab and, you know, you barely feel it. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive in the beginning, but with time and with, you know, getting myself, well, I wouldn't say educated, but reading about it, weighing the pros and the cons. I say, you know, if I have trusted doctors for this, for the past 70 years, I think I can trust them still. The former governor-general says although taking the COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary and people may have fear, she would definitely encourage other individuals to take the leap of faith and get vaccinated. I know there's quite a bit of, you know, vaccine hesitancy abroad. I feel well, I think, in the most part by, you know, what people read, you know, particularly on social media, contradictions, even among health professionals, so people are questioning. But I would say, you know, as I said before, you trust the doctor if the medication he gives you. You don't ask, you know, why is that good for your body, you know? And this vaccine is no different, you know, from your diabetes medicine or your cholesterol or your, you know, or your hypertensive medicine. The Ministry of Health encourages individuals to pre-register for the COVID-19 vaccine via the online platform at hmi.govt.lc or at your nearest Community Wellness Centre. Reporting from the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I am Fonal Neptune.