100,000 Pfizer vaccines expected from COVAX next week

Guyana is expected to receive 100,000 doses of the US-made Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility on October 4, an injection that is expected to allow another 50,000 people to become fully immunised.

This was revealed by Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Thursday, during his daily COVID-19 update.  It’s the first time we will be receiving Pfizer vaccines from COVAX,” Dr. Anthony said then. COVAX is a global mechanism that was created to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Importantly, too, Guyana received 146,250 Pfizer vaccine doses from the United States in August. These vaccines have been used for the immunisation of children between the ages of 12 and 18.

It is unclear if the incoming 100,000 Pfizer vaccine doses will be used for the immunisation of children or whether it will be used for adults.

Previously, Guyana received three shipments of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. The latest shipment- 56,700 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine– arrived on August 13. In total, Guyana has received 119,100 of the AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the COVAX facility.

The government has halted the administration of the first dose of the AstraZeneca and is focusing its efforts on administering the second dose of this vaccine, Dr. Anthony said on Wednesday.

On Thursday, he said that Guyana’s AstraZeneca vaccines will expire in November.

Importantly, there are emerging travel restrictions potentially limiting the recognition of some vaccines like the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine that is used wildly in Guyana. As such, the revaccination of people is among the options the government is exploring as a solution for the free movement of people.