 St. Lucia continues its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as it receives its third batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility. More in this report from Furnel Neptune. The government of St. Lucia recently received 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility. This shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine was made possible for the Pan-American Health Organization PAHU and WHO. Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, the Honourable Moses Jabhatis, says the government remains committed to make vaccines readily available to the population. The focus is to ensure equitable distribution of vaccine. While St. Lucia will receive its initial supply, the country will procure additional vaccines to ensure everyone who needs the vaccine receives it. St. Lucia has received two installments, totaling 50,400 doses. This third installment of 24,000 doses will provide vaccines to cover approximately 6% of the population as the ministry continues steadfast in its fight against this pandemic. The minister also encouraged St. Lucia to visit the various vaccination sites and get vaccinated to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus. Minister of Immunization Manager, St. Lucia Jabhatis, spoke on the effectiveness of vaccines in fighting the COVID-19 virus and says the gold-forcing closure is to reach population immunity. The availability of safe and effective vaccines is the opportunity for us to regain some measure of normalcy. Vaccines undoubtedly is the most cost-effective public health strategy to combat this pandemic and to decrease the burden of disease in our small countries, St. Lucia. There is no doubt that the vaccines that we have received today from the COVAX facility will be a real support and assistance towards achieving our goal. The COVAX facility is a global partnership between the Collation for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, CEPI, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization. Reporting from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, I am Fennel Neptune.