Up to last weekend, nearly 30% of the adult population of Region Two had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh, who says newly implemented measures to restrict access by the unvaccinated to government services have resulted in an uptake.
Dr Singh told Stabroek News that a total of 14,700 or 48.2% of the 30,500-member adult population received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 9,200 persons or 29.5% getting the follow-up dose in the region.
“Due to the implementation of the new measures by the Government of Guyana we are seeing that persons are coming forward to be vaccinated across the region,” Dr Singh said, while noting that government workers and residents of Amerindian villages were among those seeking vaccines.
Since the start of the month, when the new measures took effect, persons who are unvaccinated have been required to make appointments in order to visit government ministries and agencies. Some of these bodies have also been requiring that unvaccinated persons provide a negative PCR test result to verify their status in order to access services.
The region, Dr Singh said, currently has AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Sputnik-V first doses available. All the second doses of the Sputnik-V are exhausted and Dr Singh said the region will receive a replenishment this week.
He encouraged the Region Two population to ensure that they take the vaccine and to be safe during the pandemic. He also mentioned that sensitisation on the vaccination programme continues within the region.
Like in other parts of the country there has been vaccine hesitancy among the region’s population as some persons have the mistaken belief that they may end up severely ill after getting inoculated. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
On Sunday, more persons went to take their vaccines at the Suddie Health Centre. A team was also in the St Monica/Karawab Amerindian community administering vaccines.
Mala Persaud, who got vaccinated, said she is glad she made up her mind to do so after getting over her fears. Persaud is now encouraging others to take the vaccine also.
Ashley Deonarine, who also got her first dose, said that she was very nervous since she has a vaccine phobia. She said after overcoming her fears, she took the AstraZeneca vaccine and she is glad she did. She thanked the frontline workers for having patience with her and for encouraging her.
Like Deonarine, other young people were very scared of the vaccine but they were also comforted by the nurses on duty.
Vaccination drives continue within the Township of Anna Regina, where the vaccination team is present at the Anna Regina Republic Bank branch tarmac every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
COVID-19 vaccines are also available at permanent sites at Suddie, Anna Regina, and Charity. The vaccination team is usually at the Charity every Monday.
