NASSAU, The Bahamas – Public Health Nurse Ruth Bastian became the first person to be inoculated with the COVID-19 Vaccine, as The Bahamas Government rolled out its phased vaccination plan.

Ministry of Health officials utilized Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road, where the first shot was administered to Nurse Bastian at 10am.

Nurse Bastian, who has been attached to the Immunization Unit since 2009, has also spent quite a number of years in the public health system working at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, and on the Family Islands of Andros and Eleuthera.

Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, Special Health Adviser to the Prime Minister and chair of the Consultative Committee received the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccination.

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis and his wife, Patricia, are also expected to be among the first individuals to be vaccinated.

Archdeacon Keith Cartwright was present at this first inoculation, and delivered prayers and blessings.

The vaccine shots administered Sunday were from the batch of 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccine – also known as Covishield -- which The Bahamas received from the Government of India on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

The vaccine was pre-qualified by the WHO and received Emergency Use Listing (EUL) approval by the WHO.  The vaccine has also received certification from the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS).   (BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)