 St. Lucia reached a 20% target of fully vaccinated persons as of Monday 11th October 2021, accounting for 36,253 persons having received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. While this seems far away from the desired 70% population immunity, it signifies progress, a step closer to achieving our goal. Over the past weeks, we noted a tendency towards a decrease in the reported cases, however, we should not become complacent. We note that there are still variants of concerns circulating in country, and as a result, the possibility of another spike exists if we become too relaxed. Therefore, we urge each and every one to continue adhering to the public health measures and get vaccinated. The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs continues to note a higher percentage of hospitalizations and deaths in the unvaccinated. In light of this, we encourage you to get vaccinated for the added protection from the COVID-19 virus. The benefits of the vaccine greatly outweigh the potential side effects associated with the vaccine. The possibility of serious complications for anyone who gets the virus should be a reason for getting the vaccine. Indeed, it is difficult to predict how COVID-19 will affect any individual, and so the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs stands behind its official recommendation that every citizen gets vaccinated for COVID-19. Over the past 19 months, we have reported 224 deaths. Each life loss was someone dear to one of us. A mother, father, sister, brother, friend, workmate, or someone whom we knew, COVID-19 is real. COVID-19 vaccines, combined with the public health recommendations, provide the best protection from COVID-19. This is how we can end the pandemic. Persons who are unvaccinated are encouraged to access one of the vaccination sites. Play your part in ending the pandemic. Vaccinate for you, for yours, and for us.