In spite of the availability of vaccines on the island, Jamaica records one of the lowest vaccination rates in the Caribbean, as over 74 per cent of Jamaicans remain unvaccinated against COVID-19.

This data was revealed in a presentation by the Ministry of Health and Wellness on the Joint Select Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Matters in Parliament last week.

The presentation highlighted that only 19.9 per cent of the population had received a first dose or had been fully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccines up to December 15.

Of that 19.9 per cent, some 5.7 percent had received a first dose which means that a staggering 74.4 per cent of the total population had not received any form of protection against the coronavirus.

Among parishes listed, Kingston and St Andrew had the highest coverage with 26.9 per cent of overall vaccination, of which 7.9% received a first dose while 65.1 per cent of the corporate area remains vulnerable.

St James has a 22.9 per cent vaccination rate, of which 6.8 per cent is made of those who received a first dose.

The least vaccinated parishes include Clarendon at 15.9 per cent, St Catherine stands at 14.6 per cent, Portland 14.1 per cent, and St Thomas with 10.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, persons in the 70 to 79 age group have the highest level of vaccination which stands at 35.4 per cent. Following closely are the 60 to 69 age group at 35.1 per cent; 50-59 at 30.9 per cent; 40-49 at 25.5 per cent, and 80 years at 24.8 per cent, while teenagers and adolescents ages 12 to 19 stands at 20.2 per cent.

The ministry has also noted that with these low levels of vaccination, Jamaica is on the course of missing its target of 65 per cent by March 2022.