AXA XL makes donation to Bermuda hospital to support COVID vaccination effort

AXA XL has donated $40,000 to the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Foundation (BHCF) to support the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The BHCF had appealed for individuals and businesses to help cover the cost of running the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) Vaccination Clinic, including the considerable expense incurred in administering vaccines.

While vaccines are given at no cost to individuals in Bermuda, there are increasing costs to the BHB for the nurses, administrators and equipment needed to handle patient intake and administer the vaccine.

Patrick Tannock, chief executive officer of AXA XL’s Bermuda insurance operations and president of the XL Foundation, AXA XL’s philanthropic unit in Bermuda, stressed the importance of the hospital, especially in light of the work it is doing during the pandemic.

“Given the recent increase in COVID-19 positive cases and deaths, it is important for all of us to do all that we can to support the stability of the hospital and our entire healthcare system,” he said. “It is equally imperative that the hospital has the resources required to support Government’s efforts to reduce community transmission through increased vaccination.”

Tannock applauded the efforts of the front line staff at the hospital throughout the crisis. “While these are challenging times, the increased availability and efficacy of the vaccines should give us hope that together we will get through this pandemic,” he added.

BHCF executive director Lisa Sheppard said: “This kind and generous gift has helped enable the island’s only hospital to continue with the important work of the National Vaccination Programme. The COVID-19 Global Pandemic is depleting health care services globally and we are so grateful for this much needed support during this critical time.”