Dear Editor,
First, I would like to commend and encourage the government and all who are facing the tremendous challenge of getting the population vaccinated. Vaccinations have been proven beyond doubt to be the key to the near elimination of fatalities from this deadly disease. Kindly allow me a little space in your precious newspaper to suggest, with the utmost of respect, that this effort could be assisted by allowing private medical suppliers and institutions to bring, sell and administer the vaccines, especially the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson versions. It has been shown that mixing vaccines or taking more than one is not only harmless but very effective. In some studies, mixing vaccines for the first and second shots have outperformed two shots of the same vaccine in boosting the immune response.
Several countries, including Canada, Italy, and England and have employed this practice. Famously, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Italian Premier Mario Draghi mixed their shots.
With some countries not recognizing vaccines like Sputnik, and with Trinidad reportedly refusing you even in transit if you have had Sputnik, it would offer Guyanese a viable option, and would reduce the workload on the current government programme. I still urge all unvaccinated persons to get vaccinated ASAP irrespective of their travel plans or which vaccine they get at this stage. However, Guyanese may feel comforted to know that they could take one now, with a strong possibility that they could in time take another version if that at all becomes necessary. Further, should private institutions be able to administer the western vaccines, those who are hesitant to take the Russian and Chinese versions would not have too long to wait.
Sincerely,
Keith Evelyn
