The addition of private sector vaccination sites is expected to move Jamaica more quickly towards its vaccination target of sixty-five percent of the population, by next March.

That’s according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, who signed an agreement with 11 private entities that will begin administering vaccines this week.

The sites include Fontana Pharmacy locations across several parishes.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the Private Facilities Vaccination Programme this morning (September 27), Dr. Tufton noted that some 738,500 vaccines had been administered, as of this morning.

He said close to 500,000 of these individuals will need to access second doses in the coming days, and the private facilities will help.

Dr. Tufton added that the ministry will be working to identify other private sites, in areas where there are gaps.

Meantime, he said the ministry will be moving to get more vaccines into rural communities using mobile units.

Dr. Tufton stated that with more facilities now available in towns, the focus of the mobile units can be shifted.

He noted that the intention is to expand the buses and get into hard to reach areas.