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The following was posted @10:05PM on the 13 September 2021by Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV to blog in reply to GP and JOhn Knox on the Barbados: Following the Science on Covid 19?

Your two posts above make medical sense neither the “virus” or the “vaccines”” are behaving typically.

That is amazing when one of the most common respiratory virus behaves the same way and the vaccine(s) used to combat it has the same level of effectiveness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_vaccine

The longer this pandemic progresses the more the “science” is supporting my assessment that COVID-19 will become one of the common respiratory viruses (diseases). These viruses have the common:-

1) the recovery rate eventually being high even without a vaccine.

2) They still takes lives worldwide by the hundred of thousands. This is usually from those that are immuno-compromised and were not vaccinated. This is in comparison to the hundreds of millions that recover.

3) A “one and done” vaccine does not exist. This is due to the fact that these viruses mutate rapidly (in comparison to most viruses). A (major) virus mutation does not necessarily make it significantly more debilitating \ fatal. It may make it more evasive to the immune system and in this way MAY cause more deaths INITIALLY. The immune system has to (re)recognize these mutations as a threat and mount a response. This is how the immune system functions. Through our lives it recognizes MOST pathogens and mounts a response to MOST of them. Vaccinations help reduce the length of time to re-recognise the virus\mutations and for mankind to develop a collective immunity.

My question is why is mankind “reinventing the wheel” when we have been exposed to viruses that behave the same as COVID-19 and are still commonly spread. We have not been able to eliminate these viruses and these viruses have not eliminated mankind. My observation is we have been “blinded” by non scientific fake news, the politicizing of the public health disease prevention measures and the utter nonsense from anti-vaxxers. Also, some of the mixed messaging from the scientific and medical community has only added to the uncertainty in combating this virus. What we must do is to logically assess this virus after a 20 month pandemic against the history of fighting similar viruses\diseases and let modern science help tame this pandemic in the shortest time possible.

As supported by the prevailing science and the data on COVID-19 this is my assessment on the pandemic

1) border closures, lockdowns & curfews will become useless to stop the spread in any meaningful way in the long term. The advent of the delta variant HAS and WILL make this abundantly clear. Those measures were used with the intention of being temporary and that the pandemic would have eventually ground to a halt. This is now wishful thinking. Far from coming to a halt, only more variants have arisen. What these measures may do is to provide a temporary reduction of cases. This is just too costly, unsustainable and ineffective for the purpose of ending this pandemic. More targeted measures are needed.

2) The first measure is to have a deep and rapid vaccination program. Barbados and countries the world over have gone through mass vaccination programs to viruses before (including to viruses that literally have been more crippling). We know from influenza that vaccines and boosters are devised yearly for particular influenza subtypes(variants). They have not been mandated as influenza now has a relatively high recovery rate unaided. My estimation is that countries should have the CAPACITY to immunize 60% – 70% of the population over 6 months for the next 1-2 years. This falls inline with estimates of the length of time particular vaccines are effective. Not strictly getting to this number does not mean failure as this virus has a high recovery rate to begin with . it will only determine how long we will stay in this pandemic. The current vaccines have been given “emergency use authorization” after going trough successful Phase 3 trials. Real world data is supporting the full authorization of these vaccines. This will strengthen the argument of mandating vaccines at least until the pandemic is brought under control. Vaccine mandates are far from unique. In my opinion when these vaccines are fully authorized, there must be a universal mandate of either to become vaccinated or be subjected to 7-14 day testing at least for the next 12-24 months. This mandate can occur when there is enough vaccines\boosters to vaccinate 60-70% of the population

3) Mass isolation \ quarantining will become impractical and basically unnecessary for THIS virus. In Barbados, the data is showing that the majority of cases are in tertiary isolation. Gov’t is now considering monitored home isolation. In my opinion this is essentially supervised sick leave. Doctors authorize SICK LEAVE with intention that people STAY AT HOME to recover on their own.
The danger these people with COVID pose to the rest of society is less if we continue to adopt the public health measures of sanitizing, temperature checks and mask wearing for all including the vaccinated. In my opinion this monitored isolation should only be for the unvaccinated. In theory, those vaccinated that develop Covid-19 should pose an even lesser threat when directed to be on “sick leave”

4) Data is revealing that the virus spread is occurring in enclosed areas with poor ventilation and people staying in such areas for a prolonged periods. In certain environments e.g. in bars or restaurants, improper mask wearing occurs for prolonged period without the required social distancing This is an obvious, unwanted and now unacceptable gap in the protocols. The strategy against this is straight forward. Reduce or totally ban the patronizing of such places( environments) if the public health disease prevention measures cannot be adhered to.

The CMO has stated that sanitizing the work place after the discovery of a single COVID case is not obligatory. I would support the idea that this sanitizing be mandated by the Ministry of Health if such a business has been found to be the source of a significant cluster or has been the destination of several cases. The MOH should perform a specific “COVID-19 audit” of said businesses to modify operations to make them compliant to prevent future COVID-19 spread.


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318 responses to “Chasing the Virus”


  1. angela coxSeptember 18, 2021 8:51 AM

    A source of employees water comes from the taps of industrial companies which is mostly derived from under ground pipes distrusted through govt reservoirs systems

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    It comes down to probability.

    If only some of the water sources are contaminated it depends whether individuals’ homes and/or work places are in distribution zones fed by the few contaminated sources.


  2. The following cannot be refuted by the one who shall not be named to protect the guilty who is always mindlessly weakly refuting points and half points but missing the whole point in it’s entire total context

    We are vibrations
    but, we must strengthen our vibration
    with sound healing
    by chanting mantra

    For those who lack focus
    this is the mother of all mantra
    for all householders
    to make the fence vibrate


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwRoHC83wx0

    The Gayatri mantra is

    ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

    oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
    tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
    bhargo devasya dhīmahi
    dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

    one translation is
    Om, the Brahm, the Universal Divine Energy, vital spiritual energy (Pran), the essence of our life existence, Positivity, destroyer of sufferings, the happiness, that is bright, luminous like the Sun, best, destroyer of evil thoughts, the divinity who grants happiness may imbibe its Divinity and Brilliance within us which may purify us and guide our righteous wisdom on the right path


  3. John,

    Dominicans are behaving themselves after the 2017 hurricane left them with no roofs and no power for a year+

    You should go back to your lab as you are too short and are not smooth operating correctly in full e-f-f-e-c-t


  4. RE Only a fool will conflate hermeneutics with doctrine.

    DEFINE HERMENEUTICS
    AN HONEST PRESENTATION WILL SHOW THAT MASTERY OF HERMENEUTICS IS NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN TO BIBLE DOCTRINE MASTERLY.

    THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE COURSES ON HERMENEUTICS ONLINE. I DOWN LOADED ONE IN 1998…..BUT I STUDIED MY FIRST COURSE ON HERMENEUTICS AT MY LOCAL BAJAN BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1970 AT AGE 18.

    MASTERING A NUMBER OF METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY ENABLES MASTERY OF ONE’S HOMILETICS, I.E HOW ONE WILL BEST PRESENT ANY SECTION OF THE BIBLE

    MUCH OF THE BIBLE CONCERNS PEOPLE. SUCH STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS, LIKE CALEB, JOSHUA, MOSES, KING DAVID ( and even David King) PAUL, PETER, ARE BEST DESCRIBED AND DISCUSSED BY DOING A BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY, USING A FORMAT GIVEN IN THE BIOGRAPHICAL METHOD OF BIBLE STUDY.

    IF ONE WANTED TO TEACH ON WATER, OR FOOLS OR ANY TOPIC, ONE WOULD USE YOUR STRONG’S CONCORDANCE TO RESEARCH THE BIBLICAL PASSAGES ON THE DESIRED TOPIC, AND PREPARE A STUDY USING THE TOPICAL METHOD OF BIBLE STUDY.

    ONE MIGHT TEACH THE FOUR SHORT ONE CHAPTER NT BOOKS OR/AND OBADIAH IN THE OT, BY PREPARING A CHAPTER STUDY, RATHER THAN DOING A VERSE BY VERSE EXEGESIS.

    WHILE PREPARING TO TEACH THROUGH A BIBLE BOOK, FOR THE INTRODUCTION, ONE MIGHT PREPARE A BOOK STUDY, USING ONE OF THE GOOD FORMATS FOR SO DOING.


  5. John John

    Are you practising your breathing exercises daily

    just in case you become Covid+ve and need help

    there is plethora of truth information out there in the universe

    you can research variety of different techniques how to breath
    such as
    through pursed lips
    exhaling slowly
    box breathing
    to bottom of your lungs
    diaphragmatic breathing
    to the back of your lungs
    and heaps more

    disclaimer note:
    practising 5 minutes for each exercise daily
    does not mean you will not catch Covid


  6. Gaston Browne fighting the virus with tougher measures declaring to govt workers No Vaccine
    No jobs
    Stan home till wanna show proof of vaccine
    The barrel on which Gaston is riding the country maybe a double barrel shot gun which can blow the social economic environment into bits and pieces


  7. Everybody has to go but it seems the Grim Reaper God has great fun choosing how and when!

    In your mind and the minds of so many, he is an active participant spending much of his time “taking’ people.

    Not my kinda God at all!


  8. So…when a bomb blows an innocent babe to bloody little bits, The Grim Reaper God took that child.

    When a serial killer lures victims to his lair and slits their throats, God took them.

    When the manufactured Chinese virus is unleashed into the water killing millions, God took them.

    So God sent the bomber, the serial killer and the Chinese scientists as a way to satisfy his creative urges.


  9. “DEFINE HERMENEUTICS”

    Nope sorry son no can do I shall kick the ball straight back to you for you to do some brain work instead

    can you clear up the distinction between mythology / history / gods


  10. Our beloved government should urgently relax the Corona measures. If we have too few deaths, people think they don’t need to get vaccinated. We should avoid that at all costs!

    3-10 deaths PER DAY among the unvaccinated in our local population is, in my opinion, an acceptable level to increase vaccination readiness in the coming months. In addition, the unvaccinated should bear the costs of treatment themselves if they fall ill with COVID19. After all, it is their own fault.

    This is called motivation by facts.


  11. @ Dr. Dog God

    For completion and certification of your religious studies teacher training coursework you must produce a thesis on the Gods and Goddesses of man and woman and note the similarities and differences if any between a random cultural religion of your own choice

    Here are some presentations slides for your review starting from the first God Ra in Egypt Africa and then thru to various Hindu Gods and Goddesses


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQz-OxTqlTc


  12. “3-10 deaths PER DAY among the unvaccinated in our local population is, in my opinion, an acceptable level to increase vaccination readiness in the coming months. In addition, the unvaccinated should bear the costs of treatment themselves if they fall ill with COVID19. After all, it is their own fault.”

    Peoples should work on the basis that everyone will catch Covid

    and taking a vaccine (x2 + boosters) will mitigate and circumvent serious health issues despite limitations for themselves and those around them

    Me no know why
    People funny boy

    Humans are not empaths
    the death of one close loved one means more to them than the death of 4 or 5 million unknown strangers


  13. Mia asking fifty thousand barbadians to step forward and received the jab
    It seems that out of the majority people who voted for this govt fifty thousand are missing


  14. “He said unfortunately, the six persons who died within the last week were unvaccinated.” (General Bosstic)

    The opposition, the lawyer from Jamaica and the BAMP president should finally stop blathering about “freedom of choice” in vaccination and undermining the willingness of our population to be vaccinated.

    I could well imagine that our government will soon revoke the professional licences of these people if they do not stop their campaign.

    Vaccination is the only way to stop the Chinese plague in Barbados. Follow our Supreme Leader!


  15. Tron

    Vaccination is the only way to stop the Chinese plague in Barbados. Follow our Supreme Leader!
    Xxccc
    But medical says the vaccine does not stop the virus or from people contracting the virus


  16. I am with the PM fifth thousand people
    Mostly blp supporters step forward and get the jab


  17. @ angela cox September 18, 2021 7:34 PM

    If people catch the disease but don’t get seriously ill because of the vaccination (i.e. at most a cold), that’s a good thing. It strengthens the immune system again against the epidemic.

    Why should the vaccinated care if notorious refuseniks get sick? The PRIMARY purpose of vaccination is to protect oneself, not others. This has always been the case in medical history. It is not about protecting insane vaccine refuseniks who want to commit suicide. We should leave these people to their fate.

    On a general note: Our Supreme Leader presents news to cheer about today: soon 200,000 residents will be vaccinated and we can finally call ourselves a republic. If that is not a reason to rejoice! It is great to be in Barbados under Mia´s rule.


  18. Your ignorance knoweth no bounds.

  19. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    angela coxSeptember 18, 2021 7:34 PM
    “But medical says the vaccine does not stop the virus or from people contracting the virus”

    It increases your chances of NOT DYING and NOT SPREADING the virus….that is as dumb down an explanation of the benefit to the vaccines. Across a population it should reduce the deaths

    angela cox September 18, 2021 7:37 PM

    “I am with the PM fifth thousand people
    Mostly blp supporters step forward and get the jab”

    I am glad to see you have a non political view when it comes to battling the virus (sarcasm)


  20. The GOB should soon be there and maybe they will be able to stop the spread and work towards the eradication of the virus from our country.!!!

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/09/18/bostic-majority-of-covid-cases-concentrated-on-southern-corridor-in-urban-areas/


  21. Below the 200 foot contour makes sense to me.


  22. JohnMarch 1, 2021 10:46 AM

    LawsonMarch 1, 2021 9:20 AM

    what if you live in country and are on well water or desalinated water from sea?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The public water supply wells in Barbados have zoning around them.

    Zoning means water has a travel time to get to the well.

    Travel time means the bacteria and viruses have a chance to die off completely or be reduced to such low concentrations as to be negligible.

    Singapore desalinates sea water straight from the sea.

    They have no problems because their process reduces the possibility of virus getting into the drinking water if not to zero then almost zero.

    … and they do it day in day out because their lives depend on it.

    We need that technology and work ethic.

    Desalinated water starts at sea level.

    You are safer in the country the higher up you go!!

    No public water authority is going to pump it up beyond a certain level, electricity is too expensive.

    The higher up you go the less chance it will be distributed there.

    It follows that in all likelihood, there will be clusters below the 200 foot contour, possibly between the 200 and 400 foot contour.

    Unlikely to be higher.

    I know of one cluster which fits like a glove!!

    … and the rather astute observation regarding the lack of the COVID bus up in St. Thomas kind of supports what I am saying.

    Bring me questions I got answers!!


  23. Minister of Health and Wellness Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic is reporting that the majority of the cases are concentrated on the southern corridor in urban areas.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    You see what I mean.

    Berating Bajans for not following protocols is just not the way.

    It makes absolutely no sense blaming the unvaccinated in the southern corridor or saying those who live in the southern corridor will not follow simple protocols.

    The solution rests with the GOB.


  24. I will see if I can dig up the map of the distribution zones I had from the 1978 Water Resources Study.

    Things will have changed in so far as the desal plant has been added as a source but to the best of my knowledge the distribution system is still gravity fed so the zoning for distribution will probably still be the same.


  25. The First High Cliff is at approximately 50 metres or 150 feet.

    The affected areas are below it and a bit inland.

    Rendezvous Hill goes up through the First High Cliff.

    So if you live below this ridge you are more likely to contract COVID given the findings of the MOH.

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jay-Banner/publication/267842204/figure/fig4/AS:667784358932484@1536223606156/Geologic-map-of-Barbados-illustrating-contours-in-meters-of-the-base-of-the-Pleistocene.ppm


  26. The Reservoir at Gunsite Road in the Brittons Hill Area will probably distribute water to this area and it will be fed probably from the Belle and New Market pumping stations.

    But, we know Belle and Newmarket are protected by zone 1 areas so there is/are likely to be one or more additional sources, my bet is the desal plant which has no zone protection.

    We also know from what the MOH has said regarding the occurrence that the areas above the 200 foot contour are not so badly hit.

    Fort George Reservoir at 398 feet will supply this area on the Christ Church Dome.

    Since Fort George is also supplied by the Belle and New Market it would suggest a third source(s) of water for the Reservoir at Gunsite Road.

    My bet is the desal plant.

    If I am right, the GOB has it in its hands to end the reign of terror and in so doing, put Barbados on the World Stage!!


  27. Urban areas=nuff people living in tight spaces.


  28. DavidSeptember 18, 2021 9:22 PM

    Your ignorance knoweth no bounds

    Cxcccccc
    Neither does yours
    What is your solution
    Maybe your booster shot is past due
    Your govt needs your help
    Step up and be counted as one who did your part in increasing the vaccination number
    Every number counts same as every vote counts


  29. Are you sure your position on St. Thomas is the one you started out with? I seem to recall an exchange with Cuhdear Bajan that suggests otherwise.


  30. I do not follow with great interest the unscientific unproven nonsensical water debate on Covid an issue which should have been by now flushed downthe toilet
    However I lol watching the BU rabbits heading down the rabbit
    Hole
    It makes for great physchological scientific research of the so called intelligent minds that stampede across the halls of research
    Hard not to belive that Barbados education system has poured out a basket case of nut cases


  31. DonnaSeptember 19, 2021 2:27 AM

    Urban areas=nuff people living in tight spaces.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    What is the difference in population density on top of Rendezvous Ridge when compared with population density below it?

    NADA.

    The geographic boundary (First High Cliff) determines who gets water from where.

    What Minister Bostic refers to as the southern corridor I refer to as the area below the first high cliff.

    He thinks in terms of two dimensional maps, I think in the third dimension.

    Concerning St. Thomas, I posted a list of places I was informally told were places with clusters.

    One was Hillaby St. Andrew.

    That area is fed from the Castle Grant Reservoir which is fed from the pumping stations at Sweet Vale, or more appropriately, Sweet Bottom.

    That would put the heights of St. Thomas at risk.

    Especially as the BWA has issued a RFP for sewering the Sweet Bottom Area which I dealt with already.

    All it needs is for one or more person with COVID to turn up in Sweet Bottom for Castle Grant to be placed in jeopardy.

    The resident of St. Thomas is getting her water from Sweet Bottom!!

    That is probably why the COVID bus appeared in her gap … GOB wanted to know if the area supplied by the Castle Grant Reservoir was a problem.

    But it would only have been a problem if Sweet Bottom was the residence of persons with COVID!!

    GOB knows full well what is possibly going on.

    I guess having eliminated Sweet Bottom it preferred to think it was not the water.

    But there is a benefit if it is in the water, it can be eradicated and Barbados can return to its virginal condition with the only threat being from outside.


  32. JohnSeptember 9, 2021 4:53 AM

    Meanwhile here in Barbados

    Apparently , these are the Covid hot spots…..on the island:

    St. George
    Constant
    Valley View
    Glebe
    Lower Estate
    St. Michael
    Black Rock
    Brittons Hill
    Christ Church
    Kingsland
    Silver Hill
    St. James
    Husbands
    St. Andrew
    Hillaby
    St. Lucy
    Cave Hill Drive


  33. do not follow with great interest the unscientific unproven nonsensical water debate on Covid an issue which should have been by now flushed downthe toilet
    However I lol watching the BU rabbits heading down the rabbit
    Hole
    It makes for great physchological scientific research of the so called intelligent minds that stampede across the halls of BU
    Hard not to belive that Barbados education system has poured out a basket case of nut cases


  34. Above was the informal list I was given to work with a week or so ago when the GOB was holding its cards close to its chest.

    A body got it from another body who got it from another body who then then passed it to me.

    Now we have the official pronouncement as to the hot spot.


  35. Barbados is a small and congested island
    It would have been virtually impossible for the virus to arrive on the island and not leave a big foot print
    The socio economic effect mostly made up of households living on the edge of poverty made many of these households an easy target for the virus
    Also one can factor the low environmental standards under which people work
    As recently noted poor ventilation


  36. I don’t go down the hole. I can’t help my eyes from seeing as I scroll by.

    I believe that if the virus was being transmitted via water it would have been discovered and dealt with long ago.


  37. DonnaSeptember 19, 2021 7:42 AM

    I don’t go down the hole. I can’t help my eyes from seeing as I scroll by.
    Xxxccccccc
    Really
    As I deemed necessary a physchological research case ..followed by punishing laughter
    Xxxxccccc
    Presently Who and what issue are u now applying your answer
    Xxc

    Donna

    I believe that if the virus was being transmitted via water it would have been discovered and dealt with long ago.


  38. If the virus was transmitted by water then Barbados should have reached herd immunity long time ago . The majority of us drink, bathe and wash from the same water water source and would have already passed it on to those that don’t


  39. john2September 19, 2021 8:32 AM

    If the virus was transmitted by water then Barbados should have reached herd immunity long time ago . The majority of us drink, bathe and wash from the same water water source and would have already passed it on to those that don’t

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The majority of us get our water from the Belle and Hampton pumping stations.

    Both of them have protective zone 1 areas around them.

    In 1978, they produced over 50% of our water and should not have a problem.

    Together they were capable of producing 24.5 million gallons per day out of a total of 44.6 million gallons per day.

    In 1978, the balance was produced by several other sources.

    They all have protective zone 1 areas.

    The volume of water extracted by the BWA plateaued around 1995/6.

    What has changed between 1995/6 and now is of course the desal plant.

    The majority of us are cool!!!!

    It is the minority with the problem.


  40. So, if you look at the worldometer, we have done 292,019 tests.

    A tiny minority, 6,358 cases have been found.

    No doubt, several people have been retested so it isn’t the whole population that has been tested.

    The tests also includes tourists.

    The point is, there is a small minority of the population which has a problem.


  41. This table may help.

    It is a projection made in 1978 of the allocation of resources in 2000.

    In the left column you see the numerous sources available to the WWD/BWA in 1978.

    Along the top you see the 16 distribution areas into which Barbados is divided.

    The 16 distribution areas are determined by elevation and location.

    https://imgur.com/mwh8d95


  42. GP

    Thanks for referring me to this man’s work.


  43. @🐇
    Why do I have this feeling that you are have no interest in eschatology. I see these occasional post as you are just making a roll call of the troops.

    Whistling eschaton, hermeneutics and homiletics and when that fails ‘Trimp’ and in extreme desperation ‘Obama’ …
    HERMENEUTICS HOMILETICS, I.E


  44. Wishing everyone a great day…
    Bs,Ds and others (C’s)


  45. I was speaking to YOU, Angela Cox, and saying that in my mind the issue of water transmission is decided.

    Therefore, I may peep into the rabbit hole and giggle at the feverishly digging rabbit but I do not stick around.


  46. See how easy it is to link water to cases!!!!

    All it took to really make it official was for the GOB to come out with the distribution and not continue to hide it.

    Now to see if the GOB knows what to do with the information.


  47. Protective zone one areas is just a name

    How many people live in bell gully for example?

    Look up the rise in the level of nitrogen over the years That will give u an idea of human infiltration and BS your protective zone one area – pertaining to virus in water


  48. 50 000 TARGET

    PM’s vaccination goal in five weeks to ease curfew
    By Barry Alleyne barryalleyne@nationnews.com
    Fifty thousand vaccinations in five weeks.
    That’s the new number that could get Barbadians an ease in curfews and restrictions, back to a sense of normalcy in a COVID-19 world and even closer to herd immunity.
    Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said she is counting on increased vaccination numbers in Barbados over the next month to determine how and when the current state of emergency will be reviewed and restrictions possibly lifted or pegged back soon.
    If things go as she would like, it could mean a return to a time without curfews before Christmas, she suggested yesterday during an address to the nation.
    The Government leader is convinced that if 50 000 Barbadians could be inoculated in the next five weeks, Barbados would be nearer to the intended finish line, that of herd immunity, even as public health authorities continue to battle a deadly Delta variant that has led to the loss of six lives in the last week.
    Under the National Vaccination Programme, 125 042 first doses have so far been administered, while 97 311 people (35.9 per cent of the population) have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.
    “We are inching along nicely,” Mottley said during the hour-long address, citing Barbados’ steady vaccination numbers over the past two weeks.
    “More Barbadians have come forward in the past two weeks, but the reality is that all six persons who have passed this week and the few that passed since Delta, all without exception, have been unvaccinated. This is now proving to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated. The evidence is clear,” she said.
    Mottley did note there remains the possibility that around seven per cent of those vaccinated could have breakthrough infections of the virus, but if caught early, public health officials were well placed to treat them and serious or severe illness could be avoided.
    She said the country needs an additional 50 000 people vaccinated to be on a path to having life returned close to what it was pre-2020.
    “Let us agree to simple targets. Let’s aim to get at least 10 000 people (vaccinated) per week. We’re now just under 6 500 per week. Go a little harder,” the Prime Minister suggested.
    “If we can do that and maintain that each week for the next five weeks, then we will have the majority of those persons fully vaccinated before the end of November and Christmas. We may as a country then consider the option of significant review and removal of restrictions that we have in place. We would still have to wear the masks, we would still have to sanitise and to watch our density and do physical distancing, but there would then be a justifiable case for the Government to take to the doctors and public health specialists to remove the restrictions.”
    Mottley said that even in the case there are 10 000 more vaccinations in the next week, there could be an early look at pushing the current curfew hours back to later times, like pushing the 9 p.m. curfew back an hour or removing the 6 p.m. curfew on Sundays.
    “It is important that you understand the criteria we are considering when we meet. And we aren’t locking down because we don’t believe we can continuously lock down in a marathon. We are slowing down in order to increase the number of persons being vaccinated and that has happened. But we need to push a little harder. We could take our time, but more people would be exposed.”
    She said the country may not reach 100 per cent vaccination, but noted the numbers suggested could prevent more needless deaths.
    Barbados has been dealing with the third wave of COVID-19 due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, which led to 632 cases in August, an average of 20 each day compared with 1 382 cases so far in September, an average of 80 per day.

    Source: Nation


  49. Under-18s a worry

    More than 300 Barbadian youth have been infected with COVID-19 this month, and Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic is concerned about the statistic.
    In a brief address to the country yesterday, Bostic revealed that since September 1, 310 people under the age of 18 had been infected with the viral illness.
    “This is a worrying trend. We’ve had as low as six (in daily figures) and as high as 30. I’m appealing to parents of young ones that we have to do our best to protect them. We need to do everything possible to get them vaccinated,” the minister said.
    Bostic said the most recent statistics from Friday (96 new infections from 1 686 tests) showed that 14 families, consisting of between two and seven people, had been affected by COVID-19 in the latest batch of tests conducted by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.
    Since August 1 142 families had been touched by the virus, he also revealed.
    The minister said public health officials were now focused on mitigation and containment of community spread in several communities along urban corridors in the southern part of Barbados, where most of the new cases have originated.
    “We are trying desperately to save lives. Given what is happening across the globe, this is what we expected with the Delta variant,” he said about the significant community spread Barbados was experiencing.
    “There will be some deaths,” he added while noting that all six people who recently died with the virus had been unvaccinated. “We have widespread community transmission. It could have been worse. Vaccinations have made the difference so far, but we are far from out of trouble.” (BA)

    Source: Nation


  50. Make vaccines mandatory; it is who we are

    By Garth St E.W. Patterson We, as a proud, independent, sovereign people, have for centuries staunchly advocated our unwavering commitment to independence as a nation and our unshakeable faith in fundamental human rights and freedoms.
    These principles are enshrined in our Constitution, which provides a window into the soul of our nation – of who we are, the values we adhere to and the core tenets that define us as a civilised society. It provides the framework for Government, defines the core rights of the governed and represents the legal manifestation of the social contract under which we, as a collective of individuals, agree to live in a community committed to the rule of law.
    The debate about mandatory vaccinations in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic has forced us all to closely look within ourselves and to critically examine just exactly who we are as a nation and as a civilised society. Proponents of mandatory vaccinations point to the Government’s obligation to pass laws aimed at protecting its citizenry from the vagaries of the virus; while opponents invoke the ubiquitous rights and freedoms enjoyed by each individual to choose whether or not to be vaccinated. This tension between individual rights and the duty of the Government to govern is not novel and any resolution of this conflict must inevitably depend on the faithful application of the law by our constitutional institutions.
    Individual rights
    Section 11 of the Constitution declares that every person in Barbados is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, including the right to life, liberty and security of the person. Within the context of the vaccination debate, the exact source or origin of the right or freedom to choose not to be vaccinated is not entirely clear.
    To be sure, there is no provision in the Constitution that guarantees the right not to be vaccinated. Opponents to vaccination will likely point to the constitutionally guaranteed protection of security of the person, as implying the right to protection from state-sanctioned violation of his or her body by the injection of vaccines.
    However, the fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution do not confer the unfettered entitlement to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. Those rights are expressed, by the Constitution, to be subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest.
    State’s power
    At the other end of this spectrum is the question of the source of the state’s power to mandate vaccines. Section 48 of the Constitution confers on the Parliament of Barbados the power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of Barbados. The grant of powers carries with it a duty to exercise those powers. Proponents will argue that the Government has not only the power but a duty to pass laws mandating vaccines in the interests of protecting the public health. The failure to act may amount to dereliction of duty and the betrayal of the public trust.
    Parliament’s law-making powers are not absolute. Any law made by it owes fealty to and must faithfully uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution or else it will be susceptible to challenge in the courts as being unconstitutional.
    Vaccine opponents will argue that any proposed law that makes vaccination mandatory will violate the fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution. The untenable nature of that argument becomes obvious, however, when the limits imposed on the constitutional powers and protections are placed within their proper context.
    Respect for the public interest is a central theme that runs throughout the fabric of the Constitution and qualifies the entitlement to and exercise of individual fundamental rights and freedoms. Section 11 confirms that those fundamental rights and freedoms are subject to “limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest”.
    Many of the fundamental rights provisions carve out exceptions whereby laws are expressed not to be inconsistent with or in contravention of the Constitution where they make provision that is reasonably required in the interests of, among other things, defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or otherwise for the purpose of protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons.
    Public health considerations are obvious matters that lie within the ambit of the so-called “public interest”. The scheme of the Constitution makes it clear that, in appropriate circumstances, public health considerations will outweigh and trump fundamental rights and freedoms. Where those conditions exist, the Government, in the exercise of its duty to make laws, has the undoubted power to pass laws that are in the interest of preserving public health, even where those laws may contravene otherwise constitutionally protected individual rights or freedoms. The Government not only has the right to do so, but also a duty, if the exigencies of the public interest demand it. The scheme of the Constitution contemplates, in appropriate cases, the subordination of individual rights and freedoms to the protection of the public interests.
    Mandatory vaccination programmes are nothing new. In 1905, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Jacobson vs Massachusetts, 197 US 11 that a state can mandate vaccines by imposing “reasonable regulations” to protect the public health, even when such regulations interfere with individual rights. There is no logical reason why our courts would, or should, decline to adopt a similar approach.
    Explosion of cases
    Over the past several weeks, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has caused an explosion of new cases that has reverberated across the globe. Barbados has not been spared, and in the first two weeks of September this year 1 025 new cases have been added, of which 124 cases were diagnosed on September 14 alone. The implications for the future exponential increase in the souls affected by the virus are alarming and should awaken the consciences of even the most indifferent among us.
    The core scientific data on vaccinations is beyond dispute and informs us that vaccinations are effective in protecting the public, not only from contagion of the disease but also from serious sequelae in the form of hospitalisations or death. A high vaccination rate within the population will undoubtedly significantly impede the now rampant spread of the virus and near one hundred per cent vaccinations will likely lead to elimination of the virus altogether. This will, in turn, accelerate our return to our normal lives and provide some stimulus for the return to health of our economy.
    Political expediency
    The public health and public interest imperatives are, therefore, obvious and demand not just an appropriate legislative response from the Government but an immediate one. The Government has, so far, out of political expediency, declined to issue a vaccine mandate, saying that it would be anathema to who we are. However, the measures taken to date in response to the Delta variant serve no more useful purpose than a Band-Aid does on a gaping and haemorrhaging laceration.
    It must be obvious to even the most strident proponents of individual freedoms that vaccinations are a necessary evil that will better serve the public interests than blind adherence to fundamental rights or freedoms. One’s ability to enjoy those freedoms counts for nothing if the health and well-being of the individual or the body politic is severely compromised or killed.
    In the face of these harsh realities, any continued opposition to statemandated vaccines must inevitably call into question the values and principles of the opponents to it. We pride ourselves on being a village – a close-knit community, in which each one looks out for the other.
    There can be no better demonstration of that village philosophy and community spirit, no greater show of respect for the rights of others, than doing that which is necessary for the protection of the public health and public interests. Even if it means sacrificing one’s rights or freedoms. Opponents to mandatory vaccinations, however, are more insular in their outlook, and give pre-eminence the interests of the individual, even to the detriment of the collective.
    Let us, Barbados, rekindle the spirit of community and commit to putting the collective before the individual; the “we” before the “me”. Call on the Government to put aside political expediency and mandate vaccines. That is, truly, who we are.
    This article was submitted as a guest column.


    Source: Nation

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