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Medical Officer of Health in Manchester, Dr Nadine Williams is urging persons not to become complacent, as the COVID-19 cases and deaths decline. She insisted that persons should continue to follow the protocol and to get vaccinated to protect themselves against the virus.

Dr Williams made the appeal while being interviewed by Mello FM, during an immunisation drive at the Bishop Gibson High School in Mandeville, Manchester, which was organised by The Jamaica National Group under its ‘Immunise… Save Lives Campaign’, recently.

“We want persons to know that COVID-19 is still with us. Yes, the measures have been relaxed, but we are still having cases; persons are still being hospitalised and dying from COVID-19. We still need to protect ourselves by physical distancing and wearing your masks, and [avoiding] crowded places,” she said.

Addressing the issue of vaccine hesitancy, Dr Williams informed that some people do not see the need to be vaccinated, while others are afraid of taking the vaccine.

“Persons do not feel the need to get the vaccine as they said the vaccine does not prevent them from contracting COVID-19. Some persons are afraid because of the conspiracy theories out there that the vaccine is the mark of the beast or they might die or get severe reactions to the vaccine,” she shared.

Speaking to the issue of preference for vaccine brands where some Jamaicans may show a preference for the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine, Dr Williams revealed that at least for Manchester- the uptake of the Pfizer has seen a slight increase since the Ministry of Health and Wellness made it available to other age groups.

Michael Bent, regional director of the Southern Regional Health Authority also underscored the importance of persons continuing to follow the protocols by wearing their masks, practising physical distancing and getting vaccinated, although curfew restrictions have been relaxed.

“Although we have some relaxation measures, it behoves everybody to take personal responsibility for his/her self. So you still have to follow the protocol, wear your mask, do not exceed the gathering limits, get vaccinated and stay your six feet distance,” he said pointing out that when the number of COVID-19 cases increases, it put a strain on the resources of the hospitals.

He said the Southern Regional Health Authority now has 120 beds and a field hospital available to COVID-19 patients.

Among rural parishes, Manchester has the third-highest incidence of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began in March 2020. It had registered 5,961 cases up to November 29.

The vaccination blitz at Bishop Gibson High school saw 394 persons, mainly students and parents, being vaccinated.

The JN Group, through the JN Foundation will be having another vaccination blitz, on Tuesday, November 30 in Plowden district in Manchester in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.  Three available vaccines will be administered – AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer (for children 12 to 17 years and adults over 50 years). The vaccination blitz will begin at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.

Persons are being encouraged to register ahead of visiting the vaccination sites, although walk-ins will be accepted. They can register via the MOHW’s website, www.moh.gov.jm.

The JN Foundation is also offering an opportunity to persons who take the vaccine to benefit from a JN Money Card topped up with $2,500 if they upload a photo of their vaccination card on the JN Foundation website after being immunised. All they need to do is visit www.jnfoundation.com/immunisation, scroll down, and click the image ‘Immunise and Win’ to complete the brief form and upload the image of their card.

Close to 600 Jamaicans have now been vaccinated in two immunisation drives organised by the JN Foundation.

The philanthropic arm of the country’s third largest financial conglomerate, The Jamaica National Group, launched its campaign on October 1 with a series of messages on the airwaves, online and via immunisation sites to encourage Jamaicans to protect themselves and loved ones from the disease. There’s also a sweetener of $2,500 on a JN Money card for the first 200 persons monthly who register via jnfoundation.com and upload a photo of their vaccination card until December 31.

“I believe we are reaching Jamaicans and we only hope that the trend will continue as we visit other communities in parishes across the country,” said Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation.

The organisation commenced its drive with rural communities, given the lower take up of vaccines in parishes outside the Corporate Area. It began in Petersfield, Westmoreland, where some 200 people received a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, before the team moved on to Mandeville, Manchester, where close to 400 were vaccinated.

The Foundation will remain in Manchester this week, as it provides access to residents of Plowden and surrounding communities to include Little Portmore and Alligator Pond, in the southern region of the parish today, November 30. The vaccination site has been established at the Port Mahoe Seventh-day Adventist Church in Plowden and will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

At the same time, the JN Foundation is also supporting the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and a few service organisations with drives in other communities across the country to shore up the number of Jamaicans immunised against the deadly respiratory disease that has now depressed global activity for nearly two years and has killed in excess of 5 million people.

“It’s past time that we get back to higher levels of normalcy. The restrictions we are forced to impose to stop the spread of the disease are seriously eroding our human development, and if we continue, I fear for the world we’ll live in a few years from now,” Miss Allen bemoaned.

“We will continue with our message and our efforts even as we are facing the emergence of a new strain of the virus, because if we don’t, I believe the impact will be worse in the months ahead than it was during the surge of last August and September. I urge everyone to take personal responsibility by doing what they should for their families and their country,” she urged.    

After Plowden, the JN Foundation intends to head to Clarendon, where COVID-19 immunisation rates are also woefully low, although the parish has had the fifth highest incidence of the disease since it arrived in Jamaica in March 2020. Only 17.5 per cent of the parish’s population have had at least a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine up to October 31, MOHW stats show.

Miss Allen said Jamaicans can listen out for details about upcoming vaccination drives via the airwaves and from town criers in targeted communities, as well as via email and text messages from the JN Group.

Following a drive-in Petersfield, Westmoreland, which resulted in nearly 200 persons receiving a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the JN Foundation is back on the road with its Immunise… Save Lives campaign and will making two stops in Manchester on November 24 and 30.

The Foundation will be administering the three available vaccines- AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer (for children 12 to 17 years and adults over 50 years)- at the Bishop Gibson High School, Newleigh Road, Mandeville on Wednesday, November 24, and then at the Port Mahoe Seventh-day Adventist Church in Plowden District, southern Manchester on Tuesday, the 30^th. Both events will begin at 9:00 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m.

“We’re continuing with our message and the initiatives so that- not if- but when the fourth wave comes, we will be better prepared as a country and we won’t have to return to the chaotic scenes of August and September when our hospitals were running out of oxygen and beds,” commented Claudine Allen, general manager, JN Foundation.

“We want to get back to our good old Jamaican life.”

Among rural parishes, Manchester has the third highest incidence of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began in March 2020. It had registered nearly 6,000 cases up to November 19. According to Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) data up to October 31, only 19.5 percent had received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Persons are being encouraged to register ahead of visiting the sites on November 24 and 30, although walk-ins will be accepted, Ms Allen said. “You can register via the MOHW’s website, www.moh.gov.jm, and be assured that you will be processed faster than if you had just walked in,” Miss Allen said.

With less than a third of the population of Westmoreland immunised against COVID-19, The JN Foundation will roll out its immunisation drive, in partnership with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), in Petersfield in the parish.

The initiative is being spearheaded under the Foundation’s Immunise… Save Lives campaign, with the establishment of a vaccination site at the Petersfield Primary School on Friday, October 29 and Saturday, 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days.

Westmoreland, where Jamaica National was founded 147 years ago, has the fourth highest incidence of COVID-19 cases among parishes outside of the country’s largest urban spaces in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine. The western parish has more than 5,000 infections and more than 150 deaths since March last year, according to news reports.  

Petersfield, one of the country’s oldest towns with some 4,000 people, of whom approximately 3,000 are JN members, will serve as a central point for various communities to access vaccines to protect themselves from infection, hospitalisation and possible death from COVID-19. The surrounding districts and communities include Amity, Waterworks and Smithfield.

“We will be starting promptly at 10:00 a.m. and working a very smooth operation so that people can come and get their immunisation done quickly and without challenges. They’ll be  on their way in a very short space of time,” assured Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation.

Residents who walk in will be accommodated on both days. However, registration ahead of the drive is available on the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) website, www.moh.gov.jm. To register on the website, persons should click ‘Apply here for COVID-19 Vaccinations’ in the top right-hand corner of the screen, complete the information requested and select the Petersfield location.

Persons should take along with them a national ID or a letter validating their identity signed and sealed by a Justice of the Peace. 

“We are also working alongside a few churches and institutions for whose members we will be arranging transportation, should they need the assistance to get to the site,” Ms Allen disclosed. 

She reminded residents that they could benefit from a JN Money Card topped up with $2,500 if they upload a photo of their vaccination card on the JN Foundation website after being immunised. All they need to do is visit www.jnfoundation.com/immunisation; scroll down, and click the image ‘Immunise and Win’, to complete the brief form and upload the images of their card.  

Leading up to Friday’s and Saturday’s drive, Ms Allen said the team will be conducting a series of sensitisation initiatives using town criers, to assist people with making informed decisions.

“We are very grateful for the partnership with the health authorities and the American Friends of Jamaica, without whose support we would not be able to impact lives in this way,” Ms Allen commended JN’s partners for the vaccination drive.

The New York-based not-for-profit organisation has organised other immunisation drives across the country, and has administered more than 3,000 doses of vaccines in Jamaica so far, working in partnership with MOHW.

“This is a very important initiative if we are to restore Jamaica on its journey to achieving its development goals,” said Caron Chung, AFJ executive director, “and to make that possible, we all have to partner with each other. This task is not for the government alone; we all have to play our part as private sector, non-profit and as Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica, wherever we are in the world, to end this pandemic.”

Persons are also invited to tune into the JN Circle Thrive Together Life Class on Wednesdays for interesting discussions on COVID-19 and immunisation, which feature experts and well-known persons. Last Wednesday’s discussion featured dancehall producer Cordel ‘Skatta’ Burrell and COVID-19 specialist, Dr Princeton Brown. Next Wednesday’s class, October 27, will be centred on the topic: ‘Let’s Talk COVID-19: Navigating Vaccine Hesitancy and Relationships’. To register for the class, persons should visit www.myjncircle.com/thrive, or they can simply watch live via the JN Foundation’s Facebook page.

Dr Princeton Brown, COVID-19 specialist

There are some 50,000 Jamaicans who, after taking their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, have not returned to take their second shot, leaving themselves vulnerable to the disease.

Jermaine, who, without delay, received his second dose of the AstraZeneca at the JN Foundation and American Friends of Jamaica-organised vaccination drive in Petersfield Westmoreland recently, was one of those Jamaicans, until he had a near brush with death from the deadly respiratory illness.

After taking his father to get his first shot in about April at the Savana-la-Mar Health Centre, Jermaine hesitantly decided to also take his first shot in June at the bidding of his dad.

“We went down in the evening. Actually I catch the last one (last dose), because we stick around same way until they said there is enough that we can get. That’s why I took the first one, but I was still hesitant,” he recalled.

“When I should go get the second one, I was up and down and wasn’t really thinking. When they called, I couldn’t reach at the time, but I should have followed up still,” a remorseful Jermaine reflected.

Sometime later, he began to experience flu-like symptoms, which he brushed aside until the symptoms became severe. He lost his appetite and then began experiencing challenges with breathing.

“One day my sister came and said, ‘Jermaine, you don’t see you fighting to breathe?’ And I said I’m going to drive to the doctor, and my neighbour saw me and said, ‘Come let me carry you,’” he remembered up to that point.

He was taken to the Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, but he remembers very little after that.

“I went into the hospital in just shorts and shirt. I had no mind of my own and no energy to move to do anything. After that I fell asleep,” he recalled. But he hadn’t just gone to sleep, he fell into a coma, he said, and remained at the hospital for about two weeks, or so he was told.

Failing to follow through the full course of two-dose vaccines could actually make matters worse, underscores COVID-19 specialist, Dr Princeton Brown.

“Efficacy doesn’t mean you won’t catch it. It means should you catch it, the results won’t be as disastrous,” he said. Dr Brown said there is still a 15 to 20 per cent chance one could catch COVID-19 and get severely ill after just having one shot.

AstraZeneca provides somewhere between 70 and 76 per cent protection after a first dose. With a second dose 12 to 14 weeks after, that moves up to about 82 per cent. The Pfizer- BioNtech’s first dose provides 90 to 95 per cent protection after a first dose, and a second shot triggers a close 100 per cent protection.  

 “The vaccination process is two-dose and, if necessary, booster shots. We’re dealing with a virus, which has the ability to change. It’s not like a bacterium that will just stay the same. So we have to change with it,” he encouraged persons hesitant about getting the second dose of vaccine.

“One dose of a two-dose vaccine alone may do you more harm than actually good,” he warned.

“It’s always important to do the full course to get the full immunity. If you go with half you’re starting the immunity process without finishing it. Should you get sick, you have the possibility of getting sicker, because the immune system would be required to fight, but it hasn’t had enough [of the vaccine] to fight against [the virus], and, therefore, it could actually make it worse,” he explained, underscoring that this is not unique to the COVID-19 shots and is in fact how most multiple-dose vaccines work. He said it’s among the reasons people with COVID are not given the vaccines immediately after catching the disease.  

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has been encouraging persons that to receive the maximum benefits from their vaccination, notably a reduction in the chance of severe illness, hospitalisation and/or death, persons should ensure that they receive their second dose of the two-shot vaccines, AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie warned that people are not fully protected unless they have taken a single-dose vaccine or both doses of a double-dose vaccine, stressing that of the more than 1,600 persons who died from COVID-19 from March to October 2021, 98 per cent were unvaccinated.

With reports of major earthquakes and seismic activities affecting countries in the Caribbean region in recent years, JN Scholar, Lliana Lammie, believes that in the future she will be able to serve her country well in the field of seismology.

“I’ve always been fascinated by earthquakes and tsunamis. I used to be afraid of them, but now I’m just very fascinated and I’d like to learn more about them, especially how to stop them from happening and to prevent people from getting killed by them,” stated the 12-year-old.

A recent graduate of St Aloysius Primary School, Lliana, who now attends Campion College, is the 2021 recipient of the JN Foundation’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Scholarship for the parish of Kingston.

She was among 37 top performers in this year’s PEP exam, who were awarded five-year scholarships by the JN Foundation at a virtual awards reception held on September 26.

With a future in seismology, it’s no surprise that Lliana’s favourite subjects are geography and mathematics.

Despite her hectic schedule with school and extra-curricular activities, the avid netballer and dancer also enjoys socialising with her friends, though she admits that the COVID-19 pandemic has made this very hard in recent months.

“I really wish that COVID-19 wasn’t here so that I could interact with more people and attend face-to-face classes, but I have been trying to make the best of the situation,” she said.

JN Scholar for the parish of St Andrew, Damir Fairclough, also admitted that he misses interacting with his friends and attending school the traditional way. He, however, noted that he has quickly grown accustomed to online education and believes this method of learning will not affect his grades or overall performance.

Damir’s performance in the PEP exams has earned him a spot at the school of his choice, Campion College. The 11-year-old plans to remain at the top of his class, with hopes of matriculating to tertiary education in a few years.

His career goal is to become a pilot. “I want to be able to travel the world and to take my family to different places,” he said.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation (left), greets Kyle Walker, JN Scholar for St Catherine during a meeting at the JN Chief Office in Kingston recently.

Twelve-year-old Kyle Walker is not easily daunted by obstacles. In fact, despite the challenges he now faces due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students and the education sector, Kyle is determined to excel.

The St. Catherine native is a graduate of the Bright Beginnings Educational Centre in Portmore and was recently named the JN Foundation Scholar for his parish.

His persistence to maintain his high academic performance over the years recently paid off with him attaining high scores in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), which also earned him a place at Campion College, the school of his choice.

“I am really enjoying my time at Campion College, so far. It has been a good experience and I am not intimidated by online learning, even though I do miss face-to-face classes. Most of the topics we’ve been going over, I’ve already learned them, so it’s not really hard and I don’t really have any problems,” he stated.

Kyle admitted that his grades were higher when he attended classes in a face-to-face setting, but said he is determined to maintain his top performance, despite the new way of learning.

He was among 37 top PEP performers across the country, who have been declared JN Foundation Scholars. The cohort consists of one recipient from each parish and county, while 20 are children of employees of The Jamaica National Group.

Approximately 550 scholarship applications were received through the JN Foundation website for this year’s award. As part of the eligibility for the scholarship, the students and their parents must be JN members, customers, or clients of The Jamaica National Group for at least a year.

Kyle attributes his success to the support of his family, especially his father Glenroy Walker, who helped him to prepare for the PEP.

Mr Walker pointed out that his son has always been a diligent student, who has shown great interest in his studies.

“He is also a budding mathematician. He was a semi-finalist and finalist in the Junior Maths Olympiad this year. He also received an honourable mention and finished in the top one percent,” Mr Walker informed.

The uncertainty of job security has put Christine Richards on edge. However, the mother of two is grateful that, although she may join the unemployment line soon, her daughter’s education expenses are covered.

Why? Because her daughter, Tehilia Richards is the JN Foundation’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) scholarship recipient for Manchester. “I was so excited, I just could not believe it and simply said to my daughter, ‘you see God is working everything out.’ And, it came in the right time,” she related with gratitude.

“Right now, I’m not sure that I will still have a job at the end of this month. But if it were not for this scholarship, I know that I would have to be purchasing books, covering school fees, and other financial costs; but I do not have to worry about that, because all those things will be taken care of. Therefore, it is like a blessing,” she informed.

At the same time, she is not surprised that her daughter did so well, to be awarded a scholarship, as from kindergarten, she was always a high achiever. However, the pandemic posed a challenge, as she pointed out that the online classes made her became complacent. At the same time, she had the support of her mother, who also monitored Tehilia; and her older daughter, who is in fifth form, while she was at work during the days.

“This additional support allowed her to do well in the PEP exam,” she pointed out. Ms Richards’ encouragement to parents is to support their children every step of the way, by going the extra mile to get them the resources, so that they can do well.

“Get as much past papers as you can. Let them practice the exercises in the textbooks. I did not leave her out. I gave Tehilia a lot of exercises for the different subject areas. Because,if they get the concept right, they will be ok. I would encourage all parents to sit with their children and help them with their schoolwork,” she advised.

Tehilia is now attending DeCarteret College in Manchester. “I was happy when I heard that I got the scholarship. This scholarship will assist my parents to cover the cost of my education, and for that I’m grateful,” she informed.

The McIntosh Memorial Primary School graduate said that online classes were difficult, because she learned much better in “face to face classes.” However, she put in extra work and did a lot of ‘past papers,’ which assisted her to do well in the PEP exams.

“Make a schedule to study. Also, take time to relax and do things that you enjoy. There should be a balance,” she said.

The Jamaica National Group, through the JN Foundation,is inviting applications for the Oliver F Clarke Scholarship valued at $2million, to pursue post graduate studies in the field of leadership and governance.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, says the scholarship, which is in its second year, was introduced as a celebration of the life and legacy of the late Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Jamaica National Group, media mogul and business stalwart, Oliver Clarke.

“The scholarship honours the memory of the late Hon. Oliver Clarke who passionately believed that good governance, anti-corruption reform along with strong, decisive leadership in the public and private sectors, are critical pillars for the development of a nation,” she outlined.

Deadline for applications for the scholarship is November 6, 2021. Persons can apply for the scholarship by visiting the JN Foundation website at www.jnfoundation.com.

Mr Clarke, who passed away on May 16, 2020, was instrumental in the transformation of the local building society movement by encouraging the expansion of building societies from parish-based entities into urban organisations, while maintaining their strong mandate to serve their members.

Russell Barrett was the first recipient of the scholarship, which was awarded last year. A senior public procurement officer of the Southern Regional Health Authority, Mr Barrett said that being selected as the first recipient of the prestigious scholarship was an overwhelming and grateful feeling.

“I’m most thankful and excited. The donor’s name, in which the scholarship is presented, is itself most prestigious. Mr Clarke has a legacy of his own, and I am proud and honoured to be presented with this scholarship,” Barrett had said at the time.

JN Scholar for St. Elizabeth, Sydonia Nembhard

Sydonia Nembhard, the 2021 JN Scholar for St Elizabeth, credits her mother and teacher for her accomplishment in this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

An outstanding academic achiever, Sydonia earned a five-year scholarship from the JN Foundation, having obtained a placement score of 100 in Mental Ability in grade six and 90s in Language Arts and Mathematics, while in grade four at the Hopewell Preparatory School.  She was on the Honour Roll for grades three and four and was the top student in Language Arts in grade six.  She is now a first form student at the Hampton School in the parish.

Sydonia was one of 37 children who were officially recognised as JN Scholars, during a virtual JN Foundation Scholarship Reception held on September 28.

“I was proud and excited, because my mom wouldn’t have to pay for all the expenses,” she related, adding that because she lives far from her new school, the transportation cost would be high.

Sydonia is 11 years-old and is the only child for her mother.

Suzette Leachman is proud of her daughter’s achievements and was optimistic that her daughter would receive a scholarship.

“I felt good.  She kept saying, ‘Mommy, at least you won’t have to pay school fees; and you probably won’t have to think about bus fare.’ She is always concerned about those things and is very considerate.”

Ms Leachman, a guidance counsellor at Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester, opines that that children who receive active support from parents with their schoolwork, tend to do well academically.

“You have to be involved in your child’s life. If not, they are going to fall by the wayside,” she said.

“What I do is to let all her assignments come to my phone, so I always try to keep abreast of her current work,” she explained, adding that she also monitors her daughter’s Google Classroom for assignments.

The scholarship was also meaningful to Sydonia, as her father, Clive Nembhard, a school bus driver, lost income, as schools have remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sydonia’s grade six teacher at Hopewell Preparatory, Jennifer Miller, pointed out that Sydonia’s success is due to taking the right approach to her schoolwork.

“She was very serious about her work and did everything meticulously.  Whenever she has a task to do, she ensures that she goes about it in a manner that she can get her desired result. If she does not understand, she is going to question you and make sure she understands before she moves on,” disclosed Ms Miller, who added that she was not surprised about the scholarship award.

Sydonia, who enjoys reading and surfing the internet, maintains that other students can similarly achieve academic success.

“Work hard, but do not study too hard, because you may forget the other things you learned. I studied some of the time and try to relax by doing some activities to help me remember the work I learned,” she related.

She is inspired to become a medical doctor, because she has three cousins who are medical doctors.

“When you go to the hospital you see how much people are suffering and I would like to help them,” she explained.

Since the inception of the JN Scholarship Programme in 1983, hundreds of students have benefitted from financial assistance to pursue their education.