Reaching herd immunity against the coronavirus in a month’s time could prove elusive, but the island’s ultimate goal is to eliminate local transmission of the virus, the Premier said yesterday.

David Burt said the target was for 70 per cent of the population to be immunised, “which is where science says local transmission can’t happen”.

Mr Burt told The Royal Gazette in an interview: “I know that eventually we will hit that number. It will be difficult to hit by the end of May, but I’m certain we will be at a level that is very close.

“We have seen, as we’ve seen in other countries, that the vaccine pace has slowed. But the fact is there are still more and more people getting vaccinated every single day. And that’s progress; it hasn’t stopped.”

A “combination of measures” will get the island out of local transmission, Mr Burt said.

He emphasised that some countries had been able to eliminate local transmission before vaccines were rolled out.

Mr Burt said: “Our position from the very beginning has always been it’s a personal choice. Individuals should have that conversation with their doctor. In Bermuda we don’t have a policy of mandatory vaccination for anything.”

He added: “I am not trying to create any additional divisions

“We will be happy as a country if we move beyond the pandemic, whether pro vaccine or anti vaccine, pro restrictions or against.”

Six out of ten people eligible for the vaccine have already received it.

Mr Burt said he was confident the “close to home vaccinations” at the Southampton Princess Hotel and on Sunday at the Transport Control Department would boost numbers.

He said he had not asked government MPs if they had elected to get the vaccine – but that every Cabinet minister who was able to receive it has done so.