Saying the uptake of booster doses to bolster immunisation against COVID-19 remains “inadequate,” Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday appealed to those who are due to receive their shots to get them.
During his COVID-19 update, Dr Anthony noted that new infections were still being recorded and highlighted that a small percentage of those cases require hospitalisation and even intensive care.
Anthony pointed out that in most cases those requiring hospitalisation are unvaccinated and as a result he urged that persons get vaccinated or boosted.
On the latter point, Anthony shared statistics that showed that the uptake of booster doses continues to lag, particularly among persons in the 18 to 39 age group, where only 6% of those vaccinated had received boosters, compared to the 82.9% that have received first doses, and the 59.5% that have received second doses.
Among persons in the 40 to 59 age group, he said 84.2% had received a first dose, 69.9% had received a second dose and just 12.5% had received a booster dose.
Among persons aged 60 and above – described by the minister as the more vulnerable group and which accounts for a lot of the hospitalized cases – Anthony said 84% received first doses, 74.6% received second doses, and only 23.8% received booster doses. “So while here there is a better uptake of booster doses, it is still not adequate,” he said.
“A lot of the persons who… have already received their second doses [are] now due for their booster dose but they have not been coming back. So I really want to appeal to persons, especially those older persons, to make sure they come and get their booster doses,” he added.
Anthony also said that the ministry continues to face challenges in the vaccination of persons in the 12 to 17 age group, with 34,115 first doses administered, accounting for approximately 46.8% of that age cohort, and 24, 756 second doses administered, accounting for 33.9%.
He reminded that because of those in this cohort are still children, the ministry cannot administer the vaccine without the expressed permission of parents or guardians. As a result, he urged that parents get their children vaccinated before school reopens.
