The distribution of AstraZeneca vaccines that were recently received from the United Kingdom has begun, the Minister of Health has reported.
During his daily COVID-19 update yesterday, Minister Dr Frank Anthony stated that the 84,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines that were donated to Guyana by the United Kingdom have a storage temperature of between two to eight degrees Celsius and as such can be used in all regions.
“As you know the AstraZeneca vaccine, it would be stored between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and this is quite good for us because our normal cold chain caters for 2 to 8 vaccines. So we have started that distribution process as of this morning,” Anthony informed, adding that the shots are being distributed to all vaccination hubs across the country.
He noted that the vaccines have been divided equally and half of the total is being kept to cater for second doses for those who receive the AstraZeneca shots.
Speaking on the deal, he said that the government has been working with the United Kingdom on a bilateral deal and the donation of these vaccines came through that deal. He stated that the UK has been helping other countries through the COVAX mechanism but decided also on bilateral arrangements.
“They decided that apart from giving vaccines to COVAX and giving funding to COVAX they would also be doing some bilateral arrangements and Guyana was one of the first countries to benefit from such a bilateral arrangement,” Anthony said.
