COVID-19

One word "CHINA"
Your exuberance of a vaccine coming from the origin of the virus that killed millions of people worldwide, I personally have a problem with. I in no way am insensitive to the sufferings of the Dominican people. What I don't want is a vaccine from CHINA touted as a gift from the wonderful CCP.

We just got our Sinovac shot. I don't care if the vaccine came from Pluto and I don't care about the politics of the manufacturer. If it works it works and it is what's available to us here. Certainly not flying back to the US just to get a shot.....because 'murica.

Im glad you got your first shot and the benefits of a deactivated virus vaccine will become more apparent as mutations take over.

It amazes me that people refuse or denounce vaccines for the sole reason they are made in countries such as China, India and Russia knowing that 80% of the components that make up worldwide regular medicines and vaccines come from China and India and almost certainly are in the Pfizer, Moderna and Jansen vaccines. Ask them and they dont answer.

That to me is incredible hypocracy led by ignorance. I too couldnt care a toss too if my vaccine was made in Mongolia but I do care that my family and friends get access to  vaccine protection that is being denied them by selfish western nations.

People need to get out of their bubble because when they decide on an expat life in a developing nation they leave behind many of the comforts and positioning of back home and DR does have relations and deals with China. Lets end the political positioning!

Everyone needs to make their decisions.  Judging based on location etc is very very shortsighted.

Again, I rely on science. As soon as the WHO or CDC green lights this and any other vaccines I will be in line for whatever is available.  I trust the experts.  I do not trust internet warriors, rumors or hearsay.  I also do not fully trust Dominican authorities.

As soon as I finished my volunteer shift at the library Monday, we went straight to the vaccine center here in Las Terrenas! I've had vaccine envy for months and was very happy to finally have my opportunity to be protected!

Glad to hear so, but do remember that you require both shots and at least two weeks after the second to get maximum protection and maybe a booster after 6 months would be good but unlikely to be available.

For me, face masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing will be part of my agenda for a long time to come even with full vaccination, because of variants and the very low levels of vaccination worldwide with open borders here.

Yep - they gave us June 1 as our date for the second shot. Great way to celebrate Dave's birthday!

Sadly so many here think 1 shot and life is back to normal.  3% efficacy after 1 shot.

Let's stick to facts. 16% after 14 days, with 40% ish for avoiding ICU and death.

Most recent study of real time data in Chile on a large sample where P1 is prevelent.

The Chilean report also provides data on the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine 14 days after the first dose and, although it is considerably less, it exists. A single injection is 40.23% effective in preventing deaths, 42.70% in avoiding admissions to critical patient units, 35.65% in preventing hospitalizations and 16.13% in preventing contagion symptomatic of the disease. "But the worst that could happen is that people relax after the first dose and even after the second," said Araos. "You have to be vaccinated with the complete scheme of this inactivated vaccine."

https://elpais.com/sociedad/2021-04-16/chile-asegura-que-la-vacuna-sinovac-tiene-un-80-de-efectividad-para-prevenir-muertes.html

Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine effective but some data lacking - WHO experts

https://www.reuters.com/article/health- … SL8N2MS6D4

GENEVA (Reuters) - The COVID-19 vaccine produced by China’s Sinovac Biotech is efficacious in preventing COVID-19 in adults under 60, but some quality data on the risk of serious adverse effects is lacking, World Health Organization experts have found.

The independent experts on the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) reviewed Sinovac’s CoronaVac jab from phase 3 clinical trials in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey and Chile.

The assessment came shortly after WHO SAGE experts had voiced “very low confidence” in data provided by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm on its COVID-19 vaccine regarding the risk of serious side-effects in some patients, but overall confidence in its ability to prevent the disease, a document seen by Reuters showed.

The Sinovac vaccine has been authorised in 32 countries and jurisdictions, with 260 million doses distributed, the SAGE experts said.

“We are very confident that 2 doses of CoronaVac are efficacious in preventing PCR confirmed COVID19 in adults (18-59 years),” SAGE said in an assessment posted on the WHO website.

It cited evidence gaps in safety in pregnancy, and on safety and clinical protection in older adults, those with underlying disease, and evaluation of rare adverse events detected through post-authorization safety monitoring.

The experts said they had a “moderate level of confidence” that the risk of serious adverse effects was low in people aged 59 and less, but had a “low level of confidence” in the quality of evidence that such risk was also low for adults above 60.

“We have low confidence in the quality of evidence that the risk of serious adverse events in individuals with comorbidities or health states that increase risk for severe COVID-19 following one or two doses of CoronaVac is low,” they added.

A separate group of WHO technical experts was reviewing Sinovac’s shot on Wednesday for possible WHO emergency use listing - which would not only pave the way for its use in the global COVAX vaccine sharing platform but also provide a crucial international endorsement for a vaccine developed in China.

I would really like to hear some proven "scientific statistics " on how many Dominicans (living here not visiting) or at least residents living in the DR for more than 5 years and are fully integrated into the culture, have tested positive for COVID or have died from COVID vs those people that are transient, tourists or short termers.

I can imagine that information is not available and there lies your answer about COVID in the DR!

How to stop it, how to prevent it and what are the next steps.

That information is not separated out.

And I only repeat information from fully reputable scientific sources!  And when those sources approve the vaccine and publish new accepted findings than I will repeat that as well.

I don't care how many countries have accepted this vaccine because they have no other option.  That is their choice. I excercise my RIGHT to choose. So back off!

Government plans to start vaccinating the entire population over 18 years of age starting on Monday

Curfew restrictions would be lifted, as people get vaccinated

https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/ … AA26042323

President Luis Abinader reported that the Health Cabinet plans to open, starting Monday, the National Vaccination Plan so that the entire population can be vaccinated, thanks to the 2 million doses that arrive this Wednesday from China.

In this way, the authorities reach phase III of the Plan, which includes people with age ranges between 18 and 49 years.

Abinader spoke after receiving the vaccine at the San Carlos Club, in the National District, in order to reinforce the immunity created in his body when he was infected with coronavirus during the political campaign.

With mass vaccination, the government would study the possibility of lifting the restrictions, but that would be done based on the number of people who are injecting themselves, according to Abinader.

The president called on the country to seek immunity to covid-19 by attending the authorized centers to be able to talk about removing the restrictive measures.

If they are going to tie the end of curfew restrictions to reaching a certain percentage of vaccinations, they need to make sure they only count those who have had two shots!

One question - I know that they are providing vaccines for those without legal status, at least some Americans that I have first-hand information from, but what about Haitians? Does anyone know of Haitians without legal status that have been able to get the vaccine?

DR will have a total after today of 4 million shots equals 2 million fully vaccinated. It needs another 12 million shots to get to get to about 75% vaccinated. Now where from and when are those shots coming? Maybe Sinovac will supply the remaining 7 million ordered over the next two months? AZ is going to India. Pfizer to Europe by and large. Some AZ may come via Covax from South Korea.

The President imo was dangling an unrealistic incentive to get people to be vaccinated. At the same time Waldo of the medical union was blaming the rising cases on opening up the economy.

Conflicting messages and a large chunk of the population that thinks it is over.

As far as I know and read you dont get vacciinated now without a cedula. There might have been a few early lapses but probably no more.

Thought some of the vaccination statistics and planning of phases are interesting from the government.

https://sisvac.vacunate.gob.do/

They had a plan and it made some sense.

Now they are all over the place with the President having set a target of 80% of the population that wanted vaccination to have received it by June during his Independence Day speech on 27th February.

For sure the planned vaccines from AZ and Pfizer have not come but they got a small quantity from Covax and the now 4 million doses of Sinovac.

Simple maths seems to be a problem and if they get people flocking to get vaccinated now, they get a total of 2.2million with full doses. And past experiend says they can vaccinate at 70k a day and less at weekends.

So now we have the MOH stating that they want herd immunity by July/August:

Country heads for herd immunity in coming months

https://eldia.com.do/pais-se-encamina-a … mos-meses/

The Ministry of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, said today that it is contemplated that between the months of July-August the country will move towards herd immunity, although he warned that this will depend on the rhythm of the vaccination plan.

"The President of the Republic wants that herd vaccination from July to August, depending on the number of vaccines and the conditions, but regardless of this we have to continue with the monitoring we have, we cannot get out of control," said the official when participating at the weekly lunch of the Corripio Communications Group.

A third dose

Daniel Rivera explained that from an epidemiological point of view, a third dose of the covid-19 vaccine will probably be necessary in about eight or 12 months, after the second.


That means about 8 million need two jabs - another 5.6 million fully vaccinated or 11.2 million doses in 2.5 months.

Firstly they should read the statements of the Chile Minister of Helath that herd immunity isn't possible with lower efficacy and Chile are well ahead of DR with Sinovac and Pfizer vacines in use. Secondly where are these 11 million doses comong from and the staff to vaccinate so quickly?

The government message is so confusing and the reason why some 50% of the population is ignoring the face mask use, social distancing and other sanitary measures. Dropping all measures including curfew too soon will open the flood gates as the CMC said today. They should get back on message with the medical experts advice imo.

The oriinal vaccination plan was more realistic and could be more like the eventual timetable yet is totally dependent on vaccine supply, and then begins booster jabs.

My soundings here are that very few people now want the vaccine - male and young mainly.

Right now in the US you can get the vaccine any where / any time now. In the next few months unless they didnt order, cant see not be available here. The big issue is many people do not want to take it.

Vaccines were ordered by our govt buy other richer countries jumped the line and our orders were delayed!

I confirm that the huge wave of vaccinations in the US has slowed massively.

For our (wife and I) first vax shot on 31 March, the VA Clinic was swamped with veterans.  Credit to the staff, they were set up to run like clockwork.  Even so, we had about 5 minutes in line and then about 15 minutes waiting inside.
>> All other clinic activity was suspended -- all staff was all COVID all the time -- for several weeks.   >> Every appointment for every shot was filled, and the nurses advised they had extraordinarily few missed appointments for the COVID vaccinations.

Fast forward to 28 April, and we strolled directly into the facility, into the vax room, sat down and got our shots within a few minutes.  Still had to wait 15 minutes before leaving.
>> The clinic was now like a ghost town. 
>> The nurses were complaining about not having enough to do, but Mama VA wouldn't let them stand down the assembly line.

I think the Biden Administration may be pushing the vaccines so hard for a very non-medical and non-science reason:
>> That is, the US committed to buy huge amounts of vaccine, and now those doses may age out because the willing population is already vaccinated, and the unwilling population isn't rushing to get their own vax. 

But I have to tell you, our SE Idaho region is completely green on COVID-19.   Not at zero yet, but getting close.
>> Originally, per Idaho rules, I wasn't eligible for any vaccine until June.  Then it quickly came back to May.  Then in March, while we were in the DR, rumors started spreading that clinics were ignoring government eligibility rules and vaxing all comers.  Then the rules nationwide were pretty much officially changed to "all-comers."

If the big nations did outbid the smaller or less-developed nations for the early doses...those conditions are in the past now. 

Whatever problems there are now with vax availability, I don't think anyone can keep blaming "the rich nations" -- their vaccine demand has plummeted and I'm prerty sure they aren't ordering a whole lot more vaccine now.
>> And one should note that all too often, LDCs like to blame their own shortcomings on bigger, wealthier or more powerful nations.
>> I think there many other factors at play. 
>> I wonder, for example, whether Sinovac came with an exclusivity agreement precluding recipient nations from pursuing other vaccine options, perhaps for some limited time.

That THEORY -- and it is only a theory -- fits the existing facts far better than simply blaming rich nations for being selfish.

Besides -- I've been lectured multiple times on various DR expat forums that I'm not allowed to criticize the DR for its infrastructure, medical care, cleanliness, crime problems, corruption, etc., etc., etc.

I've  been told that "the ruIe" is if you choose to live in the DR or any other lesser developed country ...you don't get to complain about its myriad shortcomings.  You accept the bad with the good.

So, maybe that rule should apply to COVID-19, as well?

Jim
ExpatRusher

Let's stay on topic and stick to facts.  I have allowed huge latitude on this thread and a few others.

Jim, I do think you are looking at this with blinkered vision.

DR was one of the 5 countries that ordered and made a deposit for AZ vaccines but with the UK, EU and India demanding almost the full production there was very little left and what there was went to Covax. According to the press this week the likelyhood of any AZ vaccine coming form the major production factories in India is low and now they are focusing on boosters for UK too with a modified vaccine just months away.

DR ordered 6 million doses (I think) which could probably only be used in the capital and Santiago becuase of storage constraint but has yet are to receive a single dose. Yes Pfizer has supplied all that was needed to the USA and Israel and just last week the EU placed a huge extra order which probably means the rest of the world will have to wait. And there is a booster jab planned and I feel sure that the western nations will concentrate on that soon.

So it comes as no surprise that there is a big demand for relaxation of patents by most of the rest of the world so they can share in the vaccinations:

US backs waiver on vaccine patents to boost supply

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57004302

Big pharm will resist this big time because they are making huge profits - but it is needed.

Everything is lopsided and it is only going to give the virus more freedom to mutate and spread more widely. - and more profits for Big Pharm.

As for Sinovac, these vacines don't come cheap either to DR but at least they are being made available and more slowly than DR has expected because there is a huge demand for perhaps the only supplier currently open to spreading the availability.

A few years of living in a developing country as an a expat and seeing and reading about the challenges of such nations may change your perspectives. It isn't easy for a small endebted country like DR. If you are following what is happenng in Colombia you will begin to realize that their scenario is a real threat for all the Central and South American nations including DR and beyond becuase of the huge debts and inequalities that exist.

This statement of what has been spent by DR on dealing with covid19 and the testing and vaccination plan will give one an idea of the huge additional burden this is placing on this country.

Government has spent more than RD $ 20 billion(RD$20 mil millones) in 2021 to ensure vaccines

This is stated by the general director of Budget, José Rijo Presbot

https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/go … GC26065928

The Director General of the Budget, José Rijo Presbot, affirmed that during the first four months of the year more than RD $ 20 billion have been allocated to ensure that the vaccination process against COVID-19 reaches the population free of charge and in a timely manner.

Rijo Presbot said that within the 20 billion spent, RD $ 11, 515 million correspond to vaccines and freight; RD $ 7.063 million to PCR test payments; RD $ 811 million 600 thousand pesos to salaries for medical personnel, and RD $ 505 million 600 thousand to supplies for vaccination.

RD $ 2 thousand 810 million is also included to subsidize 5 million 700 thousand Dominicans through Senasa, among others, according to the official detailed in a press communication sent to the media by the Presidency of the Republic.

$350 million so far and more than double that by years end.

No wonder smaller and developing countries are facing a severe finacial crisis with not being able to spend their way out of the crisis massively to boost jobs and growth like say the EU, UK and USA.

There needs to be major debt relief from richer nations and banks to solve this imo to avoid the next monetary crisis as multiple countries default on loans and worldwide trade drops. Otherwise imo there will be widespread social unrest like we have seen in Chile and Colombia so far. President Abinader was right to highlight this at the recent summit of Spanish speaking nations in Andorra.

I was fully vaccinated, here in the US.  I will be going down to Santiago in July.  Do I need to have a PCR test in order to return to the US?

TIA

No idea.  Nothing needed to enter DR.

Check out the U.S. State Department travel regulations. Last knowledge was a nasal Antigen test is required to board a flight back to the U.S.

Gracias.

Solar39 wrote:

I was fully vaccinated, here in the US.  I will be going down to Santiago in July.  Do I need to have a PCR test in order to return to the US?

TIA

This may not apply, as the rules may/probably have changed.

But, for a reference point...
>> Back in early March, we traveled from Panama to DR (SDQ) and didn't require a test in advance or at the terminal.  We did have to fill out a questionnaire as to any possible exposure, but the workers took the papers and didn't even glance at them, just grabbed and put into a box next to the table.  Perhaps they checked them later ... but I really doubt it.

>> We departed from SDQ for the States on March 16, IIRC.  We were required to have a PCR test within 72 hours of departure to show to the airline.
>>  Besides checking the Department of State website for current COVID status, you really should also check with your airline's website.  Each of them has very detailed, clear instructions on required testing, the specific types of tests, the timelines, etc.  For example, United Airlines covid info page is at:   https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/tr … ices.html.  United also had easy links for finding local testing locations before your flight. 

A lot of airports also offer on-airport COVID testing, but personally, I wouldn't put it off till the last minute.  You don't want to be all packed, make the trip, check your bags then stroll into the airport to find out you tested positive.
 
We had our COVID tests done at the AMADITA CLINICAL LABORATORY in La Romana -- they were extremely professional, quick, efficient and proper.  Very clean operation; we were impressed.  No true English speakers on staff, but plenty of friendly folks and some partial speakers.  All we had to do was say the magic words "COVID Testing," and aeropuerto and they knew exactly what was needed.

I don't remember the costs, but they were reasonable enough that it made no impression on me to remember it by.  They also have dozens of locations all around the DR, so you'll probably have a couple in the Santiago region.  Check their website, https://amadita.com/ for locations.

If needed, we'd be glad to utilize Amadita Laboratorio again!!    Very nice and helpful people!!

Thank you for your wonderfully explicit and informative reply.  I thought I was reading a short novel.  Thanks again!.

It is my pleasure!!

Many kind expats before us have patiently helped us with sooooo many questions! 

Soon enough, YOU will be answering the next generation of expat's questions!! 

Good karma is always returned!

Solar39 wrote:

Thank you for your wonderfully explicit and informative reply.  I thought I was reading a short novel.  Thanks again!.

BBC News - Sinopharm: Chinese Covid vaccine gets WHO emergency approval
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-56967973

They are now reviewing Sinovac and then Sputnik.

PAHO: Haiti still not ready to receive COVID-19 vaccines as delays drag on

While most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have begun administering COVID-19 vaccines, Haiti still has not completed the necessary steps to receive a single shot, the Pan American Health Organization acknowledged Wednesday.

“Haiti is still in the process to finalize the arrangements that all the other countries have made to be able to receive these vaccines,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of PAHO. “Haiti is not paying for these vaccines but the country needs to make some legal and administrative arrangements.”

PAHO did not provide further details on the holdup. Prior to receiving vaccines, Haiti’s health ministry needs to ensure that all measures are in place, like the training of personnel and logistics including storage and surveillance, as well as authorizing the import of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Haitian health officials did not respond to the Miami Herald’s email or text seeking comment.

Haiti is among 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have been allotted COVID-19 vaccines at no cost for 20% of its population. As part of its first shipment, the country is slated to receive 756,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Seychelles is most vaccinated country in the world...but right now has more COVID cases per capita than India (!).

How is that possible? Most vaccines used are Sinopharm. Which significantly reduces serious illness/death...but doesn’t do much to reduce transmission.

World’s most vaccinated country is witnessing Covid-19 surge worse than India. What does it mean?

    Seychelles began vaccinating its population against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) using a donation of China's Sinopharma vaccines from the United Arab Emirates.
Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, announced the reopening of borders for tourists in March to revive its economy which is heavily reliant on the tourism industry. The archipelago kicked off an aggressive vaccination drive to inoculate its population of nearly 100,000 and soon became the world’s most vaccinated country.

Seychelles began vaccinating its population against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) using a donation of China's Sinopharm vaccines from the United Arab Emirates. Later, the island nation used the Covishield vaccines, a version of AstraZeneca’s shot manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).

As per the latest data, more than 60 per cent of Seychelles’ population has been fully vaccinated and around 70 per cent has been administered at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The percentage of the fully vaccinated population is more than other vaccine giants like Israel and the United Kingdom.

In spite of these impressive vaccination figures, Seychelles this week reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases per capita, worse than a country like India which has not even 3 per cent of its population fully vaccinated. According to Our World in Data, the latest rolling 7-day average for daily new Covid-19 cases per capita in Seychelles is more than twice India’s.

Public Health reports ten deaths from Covid-19 and 701 new cases

https://eldia.com.do/salud-publica-repo … vos-casos/

The Ministry of Public Health reported 701 new infections of COVID-19 on Tuesday and notified 10 deaths, one of them occurred in the last 24 hours.

According to the epidemiological bulletin 418, the total number of deaths amounts to 3,550, while the number of infected stands at 272, 809 and 36,934 remain active.

In total, 1,452,665 samples processed and in the last 24 hours 6,883 PCR tests have been carried out.

Daily positivity stands at 14.27 percent and in the last four weeks at 11.25 percent. While the fatality remains at 1.30 percent.

In relation to hospital occupancy, the use of COVID-19 beds is 26 percent, that is, 625 out of 2,373. While ICU beds are at 47 percent, which is equivalent to 237 occupied out of 505 available.

Fan usage is 37 percent with 146 in use out of 391 available.

We are getting back to the levels that prompt government action.

This is no longer the 'Easter effect'. Mask use and social distancing is all but non existent in much of the country from what I saw in my travels this past weekend. It is probably only a matter of time imo before DR joins the rest of Latin America with dire problems.

China Sinovac Shot Seen Highly Effective in Real World Study

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … orld-study

Indonesia tracked 128,290 health workers in capital city Jakarta from January to March and found that the vaccine protected 98% of them from death and 96% from hospitalization as soon as seven days after the second dose, Pandji Dhewantara, a Health Ministry official who oversaw the study, said in a Wednesday press conference.

Based upon these large scale real world results, those too of Turkey and the large scale study in Chile we see an effective vaccine after two shots even against a variant of concern in P1. The smaller scale studies have made the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Pandemic: Increases transmissibility of COVID-19, says Public Health

https://noticiassin.com/salud/aumenta-t … ca-1096003

The authorities of the Ministry of Health explained that the country registers a “slight increase” in the transmissibility of COVID-19, for which they urge the population to continue with the sanitary measures that have been established against the virus.

Dr. Eladio Pérez, indicated that a case right now is transmitting to three people.

"The R0 or virus transmission rate, we have seen a rise to 3.17, that means that one case is transmitting to three people, we also see another Rt indicator that is a very similar indicator and we are at 1.25," said Pérez .

Ronald Skewes director of the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health Pú Republic  said there is a collapse in hospital occupation and that high due to the customary people to go to these centers, "will see some places that will have all beds occupied and others will be available because it depends on the people. "

He clarified that immunity develops weeks after the second dose of the vaccine.

"If you compare yourself with other countries, the situation in this country is privileged," he stressed.

A good spin on a worsening problem.

There seems to be a tipping point when about 20%-30% of a population is fully vaccinated. I'm not sure where we are at on that effort in The DR, or how much I trust the real accuracy of the numbers being reported (not because of some deliberate effort, but because of the realities of the capabilities of the system). I hope that there is a swift improvement in conditions as I want to come back to a find a healthy community soon.

Tipping point ??? What does that mean? 

Will be months before enough get their second vaccine - for now people just keep spreading the virus.

Only 813k have had both shots which is about 7.5%. That suggests maybe 400k have not gone back for the second shot which is worrying.

At least the medical experts stated today you need both shots and a couple of weeks to have best protection.

DR has a very long way to go to control this continual rise in cases, hospital occupancies, active cases, high R values and deaths.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles … orld-study :
"But the real-world examples also show that the Sinovac shot’s ability to quell outbreaks requires the vast majority of people to be vaccinated, a scenario that developing countries with poor health infrastructure and limited access to shots cannot reach quickly."

I'd suggest everyone should read the entire article that also discusses the original testing that only showed an efficacy rate of 50%.

Again, this virus will take its due course up and until the population reaches an acceptable vaccinated percentage or it becomes dormant because of so-called herd immunity. It seems to me the RD has been fortunate in it's death rate versus a lot of other parts of the world. IMHO