And in other news, back in November, we brought you the story of a recovering Dr Cecilio Eck, Belize's most well-known paediatrician. He had recently been discharged from the hospital after a battle with COVID that nearly took his life. At that point, he could hardly walk since muscle atrophy had kicked in during that month he'd spent bedridden.

And now, six months later, he is in much better shape. Though he still isn't walking on his own - yet! - he has come a long way. Courtney Menzies spoke with him today and has this story:

Last October, beloved Paediatrician, Dr Cecilio Eck, was diagnosed with COVID 19. That diagnosis was only the start of what would be a long road to recovery that included surgeries, being intubated - twice - and muscle atrophy.

And while he has come a long way since our interview with him in November, he's not out of the woods just yet. But today, he gave us an idea about what that journey has been like.

Dr. Cecilio Eck - Paediatrician/COVID Survivor
"One of my good friends calls me Lazarus squared, because I was actually intubated twice. And I had to do a surgery. I spent a month in the hospital. Going home after a month was not the end. It was the beginning of therapy. And again I applaud my beautiful torturer, I call her, Ms Trejo, my physical therapist. I went from being totally home cared for a couple weeks to a month to be able to sit up. I think it's one of the cruel ironies. I had to learn to walk again like a baby. I had to learn to sit up, then go into standing, during that time I was in a wheelchair in my home so I had to revamp my whole home with ramps. From the wheelchair to a little walker, to my crutch sticks now. But the pool therapy works, I've been in the pool everyday. Ms Trejo comes with me and tortures me in a beautiful way. But it is a process, it's humbling, I'm thankful to everybody and all the support that I got. I'm thankful to my wife, to my kids for supporting me. And to the population. I had priests who came in and gave me my final rites. It has made me more humble, more prayerful, more thankful. It's a nice process, it teaches me what a critical care patient goes through and I don't wish it on anyone. So if anyone would come and ask me about vaccines, I'll be right behind Dr Beer promoting it. Please vaccinate your kids. Please vaccinate yourselves. It's not a made up disease and I'm living proof that you can recover from it but it is really costly and it is really debilitating if you're as lucky as I am."

And of course, Dr Eck reiterated his gratefulness for the team at Belize Healthcare Partners, who are a major part of why he is still here today.

And as you've heard, Dr Eck is encouraging parents to get informed about the pediatric Pfizer and consider vaccinating their children.