Guyana’s COVID-19 vaccination programme for adolescents saw strong support yesterday.
The programme continued at the Bladen Hall Multilateral School on the East Coast of Demerara and the Diamond Secondary School on the East Bank and saw hundreds of children turning up for their vaccines.
During his daily COVID-19 update, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that the exercise has been quite good so far and as of Monday, some 2,176 children received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine which has been given full approval by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration.
When Stabroek News visited Bladen Hall Multi-lateral yesterday morning, staff reported that there was a constant flow of children coming in to be inoculated and some persons arrived even before the administration began at 8 am. At the school, eight vaccination stations were set up with the health staff quickly giving children their jabs.
This newspaper was also told that a number of parents have been asking whether they would be able to receive their vaccines with their children at the same time. However, officials overseeing the process stated that those parents who expressed their interest in being inoculated were sent to the Beterverwagting Health Centre to receive their jabs as the Pfizer vaccines are being used exclusively for children.
It was further noted that while the initial advertisement for the vaccination programme was set to cater for students from the Bladen Hall Multilateral, Hope Secondary and Annandale Secondary schools, students from other schools also showed up to receive their shots and were given same. While the process was smooth, with the overwhelming response from parents and children, one official stated that a number of teachers came out to assist and helped the process to move faster.
One parent who asked to not be named, stated that though she was not vaccinated, her daughter encouraged her to go to take her shot after. “She wanted to come and get the vaccine, I was a bit scared but seeing how she wanted to I gave the consent and I think after this I will go and get mine,” the mother said. Another parent who spoke to Stabroek News, noted that his entire family has been vaccinated and as such his daughter will now receive her first dose.
In a post on social media just after midday, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand revealed that for the morning period some 400 children were vaccinated at Bladen Hall while another 338 were inoculated at the Diamond Secondary School during the same period.
Meanwhile, Dr Anthony stated that as the rollout continues, the Ministries of Health and Education will be in Region Three at the Leonora Secondary School and Greenwich Park Primary School on September 2 and will be in Region Six at the Corentyne Comprehensive, Berbice High School and Skeldon Line Path Secondary School on September 3.
