The majority of parents in Barbados still value vaccination, a 2024 study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness revealed.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Lisa Cummins, disclosed the findings of the study at a special Open Day on Monday, in observance of the 24th Vaccination Week in the Americas, at the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, Wildey, St. Michael. The week runs from April 25 to May 2, under the theme, Your Decision Matters. Immunization for All.

“Vaccination programmes, like the ones we are celebrating here today, do not succeed because of policy alone, but they succeed because of persons like you. Last week, and I give this example, not to scare, but to educate, I heard from our Chief Medical Officer for the last several weeks, since I took this role, that these vaccines are protecting us from diseases that are one single flight away from our shores. If we don’t reach the 95 per cent threshold and we don’t have the herd immunity, then our communities are at risk,” Minister Cummins emphasised.

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Wellness reported that Barbados recorded an increase in its immunisation coverage for measles in 2025. The coverage for the first dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) increased to 89 per cent while the second dose had a noted improvement from 76 per cent to 86 per cent.

Senator Cummins said this achievement was reflective of the work being done by health care teams as well as the responsiveness of parents. However, she tempered her praise by stating that Barbados still had some way to go to reach the targeted threshold of 95 per cent coverage.

“…these vaccines are protecting us from diseases that are one single flight away from our shores. If we don’t reach the 95 per cent threshold and we don’t have the herd immunity, then our communities are at risk.”

Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Lisa Cummins

The Health Minister reinforced the point that vaccines used in Barbados undergo rigorous international testing and continuous monitoring protocols. She added that they meet the “highest global safety standards ever before they reach our clinics, [and] they continue to be monitored even after they are introduced”.

“Our health care workers, many of them gathered here today, are not here to pressure parents. They’re here to listen to, support and to guide parents in making informed decisions. We are committed to making it easier for families to stay on track, and so I encourage today every parent to make full use of the green book, but also make full use of the teams here in our polyclinics, from St. Lucy to St. Philip and everything in between. If you are unsure, ask any of our public health nurses, they remain, to date, one of the most trusted sources of health information in Barbados,” Ms. Cummins stated.

During the Open Day at Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, members of the public were offered wellness services supporting nutrition, oral health and mental wellbeing, screenings for early detection of health conditions and support for persons managing chronic diseases.

“This is what modern community health care looks like; it is accessible, it is integrated and it is centred on the needs of our community. Vaccination is more than a personal choice, it is a shared collective responsibility. Your decision protects not just your child and those in your family and community, but it helps to protect your neighbour and our country.

“Let us continue the proud vaccination legacy that we have built. Let us continue to close the gaps that remain, and let us ensure that every single child in Barbados is given the best possible start in life – healthy, protected and ready for our future,” Minister Cummins implored.

“Vaccination is more than a personal choice, it is a shared collective responsibility. Your decision protects not just your child and those in your family and community, but it helps to protect your neighbour and our country.”

Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Lisa Cummins

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization’s Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr. Amalia Del Reigo, emphasised the importance of immunisation in preventing diseases, highlighting PAHO’s role in global health efforts.

She noted that in 50 years, immunisation programmes in the Americas have prevented 15 million deaths, 1.1 billion cases of disability, and 28 billion illnesses. However, despite these achievements, she said measles has been reintroduced in the region, necessitating at least 95 per cent immunisation coverage to prevent outbreaks.

Dr. Del Reigo urged assertive action to reach vulnerable populations and pledged PAHO’s support, while expressing confidence in the leadership of Minister Cummins for progress in Barbados.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Published; April 29, 2026