Approximately 25% of Guyana’s adult population have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announced today.
During his daily COVID-19 update, Anthony noted that since the expansion of the vaccination programme, the ministry has seen an influx of persons who were interested in receiving their vaccines.
“I would say now that the response so far has been good, we are now about 24 to 25 percent of our adult population being covered with first dose of vaccination,” he said.
In addition to the around 121,000 persons who have received their initial shot, he said a total of some 2,800 persons have received their second jab. Anthony remarked that when the age range for persons to receive vaccines was lowered, there was a rush of persons. This, he noted, has since slowed a bit.
“We are working and we are encouraging more people to come out. We have currently more than 100 different fixed sites around the country and we have published that so people know where to go,” he added.
The vaccination programme, he said, has seen health staff extending their hours of work in order to facilitate more persons, more specifically those who may be coming off from work and would like to get vaccinated. Additionally, he mentioned that they are continuing works with Non-Governmental Organizations and faith-based organizations to do special vaccine outreaches in various communities.
Meanwhile, as it relates to the health authorities access to vaccines, Anthony noted that Guyana has not yet received a definite date for the arrival of additional AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility. “We don’t have a specific date as yet but we are expecting 38,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Hopefully we get that before the end of May,” he said.
