COVID-19 update and press conference – February 10, 2021. (PMO)

Over the course of the coming days and weeks, Government, through its COVID Communications Unit, will roll out a public awareness and education campaign to sensitise residents about the benefits of taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking during a press conference to discuss the roll out of the campaign this evening, Chair of the Unit, Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson, said this would be done using traditional and non-traditional forms of media.

She said a list of Frequently Asked Questions would be ready for dissemination by Friday, while public service announcements were also being prepared.

“We are using WhatsApp messaging; we are using community leaders; we are using influencers; we are having television messages. There are persons engaged in this process who have been doing a number of television programmes.

“We have disseminated and are continuing to disseminate short videos and infomercials; we have done audio messaging,” she outlined.

Ambassador Thompson added that efforts were also directed at newer forms of media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“Every medium is being engaged so that we have maximum coverage with information,” she stated, noting that the call-in programmes would also be targeted. However, she urged persons to be patient as the island only received the vaccines yesterday, Tuesday, February 9, and to expect a “lag time” as the policy framework was put into place.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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