Dear Editor,
It is reported in the media that thousands of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines are dated to expire by the end of November and the reports have indicated that these constitute the second dose yet to be taken by citizens who have already gotten their first dose. This was revealed by the Minister of Health during his daily Covid-19 update on October 28th. Vaccines against the Covid-19 virus are sacred and scarce in the world. Many developing and poorer countries are yet to access same. Some are literally begging for vaccines in their bid to protect their people. Here in Guyana we have been fortunate to access and secure numerous vaccines incluing the AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Sinopharm, Pfizer, et al. To now learn that so many second jab doses are going to be expired by November month end unless taken by those scheduled for it, is indeed most unfortunate and disgusting at best. The Ministry of Health should exhaust every effort to reach out to those persons who are scheduled for the second jab and ensure they take it before expiry. If they refuse to take the jab without offering a plausible written medical reason, advised and signed by a medical professional, then such persons should be made to pay the cost for the vaccine. Such a lifesaving vaccine cannot and must not be allowed to go to waste by irresponsible behaviors of citizens, especially when they would have already taken the first jab without any detrimental effect.
Sincerely,
Charranlall Nandalall
