After an initial purchase of 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, Guyana has been able to seal a deal for 600,000 more jabs – enough to get to herd immunity – but the key challenge now is for people to come forward for inoculation.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony is appealing to the public to join the effort that could see this country reach herd immunity if persons take their shots.
“If people come out and take their shots we can meet that herd immunity target; surpassing many countries. We can do it because we have ordered 800,000 doses to cover 400,000 persons and that means our entire adult population,” Dr. Anthony told Stabroek News yesterday as he gave an update on countrywide inoculations.
Anthony informed that as at Saturday May 15th 2021, some 166,950 or 34.3 percent of the adult population had already taken the first dose of their vaccines. The number of persons who have taken the second and complete dose stood at 27,875 or 5.7% of the adult population. This is because the time frame from 1st to second dose varies between four to 12 weeks apart depending on the vaccine type.
The Minister of Health had last week also revealed that there are enough vaccines to provide every adult with their shots even as he mentioned that Sputnik V shots to cover a total of 400,000 persons were ordered.
This newspaper had asked the minister whether there was any concern as it relates to the scarcity of vaccines worldwide. Anthony noted that while it is a big issue, local health authorities have worked on multiple levels to ensure that vaccines were procured for Guyana.
“For Sputnik, we have actually ordered for 400,000 persons and with that 400,000 persons we are actually going to get 400,000 first doses and 400,000 second doses” Dr. Anthony said. He went on to explain that those vaccines would come in batches and as they arrive they would be put to use.
To this end he noted that the Russia-developed Sputnik V is the “backbone” of Guyana’s inoculation program currently.
However they have been experiencing some challenges. Given that the doses are expected to be stored between minus 18 and minus 20 degrees, he added that it creates logistical issues in terms of getting it to remote areas.
“Nevertheless we have been so far working and doing that and we have been using up a lot of dry ice to ensure that it is kept at the temperature”, he said.
Anthony said that while there is no issue with access to vaccines in this country, getting persons to take these vaccines posed a challenge as mostly men have expressed trepidation on if the vaccine would affect their virility. “So vaccine for us is not the issue, it is making sure that people come and get their vaccine…” Anthony told Stabroek News yesterday.
“Then there is the challenge, with vicious rumours being spread that maybe the vaccine might have an effect on sex drive, especially among some men that it could make them impotent. That is just a lie. There is no truth in that and we have to work on cutting down the rumours as soon as they start,” he added.
The Minister of Health is appealing to the public, to also put aside partisan views and take their vaccines, even as he encouraged village leaders and sports and prominent personalities to assist in the drive.
Great opportunity
“We have this great opportunity to get to even higher levels, be a model for the Caribbean and we should use it. Look at the situation in Trinidad. We want our loved ones to be protected and I am appealing to everyone to let us work together because Covid-19 is no respecter of persons,” he stressed.
It was President Irfaan Ali who had announced that residents of regions eight and ten are lagging behind in taking the COVID-19 vaccine, as he pleaded with them to come forward. “In every single administrative region, we would have had coverage of between 30 to 36% of the population above 18 years old, with the exception of Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). So in two regions, we’re not having this coverage, particularly in the case of Region 10. Only 8.9% of the population above 18 years took the first dose of the vaccine….This is very concerning. This is very alarming,” Ali had said in an address to the Nation on May 9th.
He said that the Ministry of Health would continue “its aggressive campaign to have everyone vaccinated,” but that more needs to be done by Guyanese, especially those in leadership positions.
“I call upon all leaders within our society to act maturely in not only taking the vaccines but in encouraging others to do the same”, Ali exhorted.
The President said that he was very concerned about anti-vaxxers, who continue their whisper campaign against the vaccination programme. He said that their reasons are not grounded in science or fact and put people’s lives at risk.
“This does not help our communities and country to exit this pandemic and I appeal to all of us to put our country first; put the lives of the people of our country first, and help in advancing the vaccination programme by encouraging every Guyanese to come on board,” Ali stressed.
Former President David Granger was one of the first persons to get vaccinated.
‘Myth-busting’
Former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence has been advocating for persons to be vaccinated as she also provided myth busters to rumours being peddled. “Still feeling hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Here is some myth-busting! If you’re due for your second dose, today, please be reminded to visit a vaccination site near you. And if you haven’t gotten the vaccine as yet, please consider doing so. The only way we can beat COVID is together,” Lawrence continues to share on her social media pages as she provided links to the World Health Organization information centre.
To persons who have already taken the first dose, Anthony said that it is human to sometimes forget dates so he is appealing to family members and friends to also assist. “If you know someone that has taken the first dose, try to help in making a note to remind them of when they have to return because we all are busy and forget dates from time to time,” he said while noting that cell phones can also be used to set reminders.
And if a person has taken the first dose and the date has passed for their second dose, the Health Minister is asking them to still visit the nearest COVID-19 outpost. To others who might not be able to make the exact date, he said that they can come shortly before. “AstraZeneca it is recommended 12 weeks between the first and second dose but they can come anytime between 8 to that 12 weeks,” he said.
“Check your cards, recheck your cards and show your cards to someone that could also remind you. Whatever, the case, the Ministry of Health is open to assisting and we will do all we can to ensure our population is protected,” he added.
Vaccines count
Thus far Guyana has received 298,400 vaccines with two jabs being assigned to each person. This figure is made up of donations of 3,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from Barbados, 20,000 Sinopharm shots from China and 80,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from India. From the tranche donated by India, 5,000 doses were then donated to Barbados. The government had also received 138,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines and 62,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines under the COVAX mechanism.
Based on what Anthony has said, Guyana is expecting to receive another 662,000 doses of Sputnik V. This country is also due to receive another 38,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX. If all of these supplies are delivered, Guyana will receive a total of 998,800 vaccines.
