The government is actively considering adopting recommendations made by United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that there be longer time intervals between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for males 12 years and over.
“An 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12 to 39 years,” the CDC recommends.
The recommendation was made after males developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. The inflammation can reduce the heart’s ability to pump and cause rapid or irregular heart rhythms.
However, cases of persons developing myocarditis has been very rare, according to the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony,. Nevertheless, the CDC has taken and have since found out that increasing the interval between the first and second dose reduces the chances of a male developing myocarditis.
Since this recommendation was made, Anthony says, countries have already considering implementing it. “They are assessing the scientific data and considering whether or not they need to make these changes,” said Anthony.
Guyana is also on the same path. The Minister said that a technical committee and the ministry are meeting to discuss possibly adopting these new recommendations based on the information available and it is likely that those adjustments would be made.
However, as of now the regimen remains the same.
Thus far 84.1 per cent of the adult population has received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 63.7 per cent received a second dose. Some 49, 742 persons in the country have received a booster shot.
