Although government has lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions, including requirements for persons to show proof of vaccination for access to public buildings, Minister of Heath Dr. Frank Anthony on Monday called on Essequibo residents to get vaccination in order to safeguard themselves and families against the virus.
Anthony made the call at the launching of a three-day COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Workshop, held at Henrietta.
Speaking to healthcare workers, toshaos and religious leaders in the conference hall at Jaigobin Hotel, Anthony said that Region Two is behind with its vaccination figures as only 68% of the adult population in the region is fully vaccinated.
Among children ages 12 to 17, he said, 42.5% received the first dose of a vaccine, with 31% receiving a second dose.
He was optimistic that by the end of the workshop more persons would come forward to take the vaccines, which he described as a tool to fight the virus. He therefore urged the religious and community leaders to help the ministry by encouraging persons to get vaccinating and dispelling all the negative myths.
The workshop was funded by USAID in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.
Anthony noted that the United States government continue to help aid the country’s vaccination drive by providing refrigeration and other resources. It has also donated vaccines through the COVAX facility.
“So vaccines [are] not the problem nor storage… UNICEF assisted us with cold chain to store the vaccine. In every region vaccine hubs were built, we bring special syringes, technical training, all of that we fix… the hardest thing is to persuade people to come out and take it,” Anthony said.
‘Long COVID’
Among the reasons Anthony cited for persons to get vaccinated is avoiding “long COVID”. He said that COVID happens in two phases—an initial acute phase and a second phase that can go on for months and even years.
“In some cases the virus can get into the brain. When this happens, it causes inflammation in the brain and when this happens it causes confusion. So, it is important to take the vaccine against infection,” he said.
United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah Ann Lynch was also present at the launch and she said that vaccine hesitancy is one of the major barriers to ensuring a return to a sort of normalcy. She therefore urged those who were part of the workshop to use their knowledge to encourage persons to take the vaccines.
“Your part will be instrumental in helping people to overcome their fears/ concerns,” she said before emphasising that vaccines can save lives and help Guyana bounce back from the devastating effects of COVID-19.
Ambassador Lynch also noted that that United States was pleased to partner with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and the people of Guyana to raise awareness concerning COVID-19.
Irfan Akhtar, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative for Guyana and Suriname, pointed out that the workshop is a continuation of UNICEF’s partnership with the Ministry of Health and USAID to tackle COVID-19 in Guyana. Since the beginning of the pandemic, he said, UNICEF has supported the Government of Guyana’s response in several ways, including through strengthening of the immunisation cold chain system, procurement of key supplies, and provision of technical expertise, among other things.
Region Two’s Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh said while he was not pleased with the figures he was optimistic that persons from the region would come out and get vaccinated.
