As some 32.4% of the adult population in Guyana has received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony has disclosed that Region Six so far has the highest inoculation percentage.
This was revealed during Anthony’s daily COVID-19 update where he noted that the country still has a far way to go to achieve herd immunity even as 157,797 persons as of Monday, have received first doses. This accounts for some 32.4% of the adult population. It is estimated that 500,000 persons would need to be vaccinated for herd immunity.
“We have had 157,797 persons who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That would approximate to about 32.4% of our adult population so it means really that we still have a far way to go if we are going to get to herd immunity,” he said.
Giving a percentage breakdown, Anthony stated that there are lots of differences between the regions with Region Ten still scoring the lowest vaccination percentage at 9.3% followed by Region Eight at 18%. On the higher end he noted that there is Region Six which has so far inoculated 38% of its population. “So there are variations in the uptake of these vaccines,” Anthony iterated.
The minister noted that the authorities have also been able to administer a total of 13,010 second doses so far as people continue to come forward to receive their final dose and become fully immunised. The minister stated that the ministry hopes to ensure that everyone comes back for their second doses.
“Now that many persons would fall due for their second dose, on average we have about 2.5% of the persons getting their second dose, but again we see variations on how people are coming back for their second dose,” Anthony informed. At the upper end he added that some 3.9% of persons in Region Two have returned for their second dose while Region One on the lower end is at 1.2%.
