Loop News
Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Melody Ennis, is reminding Jamaicans that the COVID-19 vaccine does not provide protection against other health conditions.
Dr Ennis explained that the vaccine will not stop someone who was already suffering a condition, such as heart or kidney disease, from dying from a heart attack or renal failure, respectively.
She further explained that persons are going to continue dying from whatever conditions they are afflicted with, even after getting the vaccine, and that the determination will have to be made whether the death is attributable to the vaccine or to an underlying condition such as diabetes or obesity.
Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Melody Ennis, says that global collaboration, through funding and exchange of knowledge and technology, were among the major factors that facilitated the speedy development of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.
Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Dr Ennis pointed out that it generally takes approximately 10 to 12 years for a vaccine to be developed, but because COVID-19 became a pandemic, governments and companies put resources towards prioritising vaccines, which expedited the process.
She said that, historically, developers would keep their information close, defending their turf, with none wanting to share information and each focused on “winning the prize” for being the first to complete the process.
Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Melody Ennis, says Jamaicans will see a difference in Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related h