Persons who are awaiting their electronic vaccination certificates should now have their wait time reduced, following the donation of 27 Dell Rugged laptops to the Immunisation Unit by The Massy Foundation (Barbados).
The purpose-built devices were designed at a cost of approximately BDS$155,000 and are expected to improve the co-ordination and efficiency at all vaccination centres across the island, including the mobile medical unit.
The donation took place this morning at the Masonic Centre, Salters, St. George, one of the designated vaccination sites.
Chairman of The Massy Foundation, Everton Browne, explained that the laptops would be used “to run specialised software in the various phases of the COVID-19 immunisation administration, distribution and overall logistics processes”. They will also be used to issue vaccination certificates to fully vaccinated persons.
“Beyond their use with the immunisation programme, the laptops will become part of the assets of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) for use by the BDF Field Medical Facility in the event of any future humanitarian or disaster relief deployment project either locally, or within the region.
“On behalf of the Massy companies in Barbados and the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee members of the Massy Foundation (Barbados), I pledge our support to the COVID-19 immunisation programme as well as to the wider COVID-19 national effort,” Mr Browne stated.
During a demonstration to show how the new computers would expedite the process of issuing the electronic certificates, Robin Byer, was emailed his certificate at the vaccination site, using one of the new laptops, soon after he received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Ministry’s immunisation team, said the laptops would play a significant role in the facilitation of the national immunisation programme.
“They are being presented at a time when we are seeking to improve the number of persons that are fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated.
They come at a time when we are about to see greater numbers arriving and departing at the Grantley Adams International Airport. It is a timely intervention because I have been receiving a number of calls and emails from people who have been asking why they have not yet received their vaccination certificates.
“And so, I am very pleased to be able to witness this presentation and to say ‘thank you’ to The Massy Foundation on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Government of Barbados. This will now allow us to do what the people want, which is to receive their vaccination certificates so that they, too, can travel in a hassle-free COVID environment,” Lt. Col. Bostic pointed out.