Over 55,000 people due for second dose AstraZeneca; more vaccines coming

More than 55,000 people are due to receive their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and with these doses readily available, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony is pleading with persons to take the jab.

In late September, the government halted the distribution of the AstraZeneca first doses, citing concerns with the availability of the second dose. And according to News Room’s data, between February and August, Guyana received approximately 279, 400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX, the UK, India and Barbados.

During his daily COVID-19 update on Friday, Dr. Anthony revealed that another batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine is expected in the coming week.

He said too that Guyana is also expected to receive more doses of the Russian Sputnik V second component and the Pfizer vaccine.  As such, the Health Minister assured that Guyana has enough COVID-19 vaccines in stock to achieve herd immunity.

“In terms of Sinopharm, we have adequate vaccines for both first and second doses, and Sputnik V, we have first and second doses currently available, J&J, as you know it’s one dose, so we have those available as well,” Dr. Anthony said.

Further, the Health Minister noted that Guyana has enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine, currently being administered to adolescents and to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s COVID-19 vaccination numbers continue to climb and according to the Health Minister, 73.4 per cent of the adult population (376,436 people) have received their first dose of a vaccine while 46.1% of the adult population (236,238 people) are considered fully vaccinated against the dreaded virus.

“As you would see, the higher the immunisation rate goes up, you will see a fall-off in terms of the hospitalisation and the deaths, and as we increase these numbers of persons being vaccinated in Region Four, you are going to see the cases come down,” Dr. Anthony said.

Break down of first dose vaccination rate by Region:

Region One: 79.5 per cent

Region Two: 59.6 per cent

Region Three: 70.1 per cent

Region Four: 82 per cent

Region Five: 72.4 per cent

Region Six: 73.8 per cent

Region Seven: 72.4 per cent

Region Eight: 45.4 per cent

Region Nine: 73.6 per cent

Region Ten: 33.1 per cent