Some 191,151 persons have since received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This amounts to 39.3% of the adult population, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said today. Additionally, 62,610 persons have received both doses. This translates to 12.9% of the population.
In an attempt to increase access to vaccines, the government hosted its second ‘drive-thru’ initiative yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The minister reported that the response was ‘good’. The event was hosted from 09:00hrs to 17:00hrs and saw more than 1000 persons showing up to receive their jabs. He said that he is happy with the turnout despite the inclement weather.
“So, we’re encouraged by the response,” he said, while adding that the team at the Ministry will be reviewing the response with hopes of hosting additional events at the National Stadium and within the other regions.
He noted that Region Six recently conducted a ‘mini version’ of the initiative and the response was ‘fairly good’.
“So, we’ll develop it and grow it, and hopefully we’ll get a lot more people coming out. It really offers a lot of convenience because you drive up, you’re in your car, you fill-up the questionnaire, and then you go and get your vaccines. It’s a really simple process,” he said.
Vaccination is being touted as the only means of exiting the pandemic. The government has already ruled out the possibility of a nationwide lockdown, saying that no evidence that altering the curfew will slow transmission.
The surveillance report for May 26 shows 236 new cases, with the death toll at 374.
