CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Frontline healthcare workers at the Schneider Regional Medical Center continued their efforts to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Virgin Islands Department of Health along with SRMC received the first of the territory’s allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine last week.
Nurses, doctors, and even one of the territory’s most well-known physicians Dr. Alfred O. Heath took the historic step in the world’s unprecedented undertaking to control and end the COVID-19 pandemic.
After taking the vaccine Dr. Heath stood triumphantly and celebrated along with his fellow healthcare workers at SRMC. According to the Virgin Islands Department of Health about 260 Virgin Islanders have received the vaccine so far.
“This is a great day for our families, frontline workers, and the Virgin Islands as a whole,” Dr. Heath said. “Our frontline essential hospital workers have gone above and beyond during this pandemic– including stepping up today to receive vaccines. Once the vaccine becomes available to all it is my hope that everyone takes full advantage of this opportunity.”
Nationwide the CDC estimates people age 65 and older have accounted for eight in 10 deaths attributed to the coronavirus.
“Older adults are a major priority as well. We are at greater risk than younger people of death or serious complications from COVID-19,” the St. Thomas medical doctor said. “I am here today to lead by example. If you’re in the elderly population of the Virgin Islands like I am, get vaccinated.”
Even with COVID-19 vaccinations rollout worldwide, the CDC continues to urge everyone to continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus.
File: 
COVID-19-Vaccine-Dr.-Heath-SRMC.pdf
https://doh.vi.gov/about-us/office-commissioner/previous-commissioners/alfred-o-heath