Guyana is not considering administering booster shots to its population to fight COVID-19, says Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony. He said that the government is more fixated on administering first and second doses to its populace.
Last Thursday, the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) asked that a moratorium be placed on third-dose vaccination.
Dr. Anthony said that the PAHO/WHO is seeking more and more countries to abide by that rule since most countries have not yet received at least one dose of a vaccine,
He opined that countries, including Guyana, should up their vaccination rate before even considering a third jab. He reported so far, that 260,403 persons (53.5% of the adult population) have received one dose of a vaccine, with 143,302 (29.4%) getting both doses.
The Minister noted that a lot of countries are still seriously considering a third dose, with vaccine manufacturers also contemplating the same. He added that Pfizer had observed that six months after its second dose is administered, recipients’ antibody levels ‘tend’ to drop.
“So, that’s one of the reasons why there has been discussion on possibly doing a third dose,” Minister Anthony noted while adding that countries that have been pushing for a third dose, are considering it for ‘special circumstances.
“And the special circumstances would be for the immunocompromised people, and there are patients who would have special conditions, and they’re looking at those patients to perhaps to give them the booster. So this, as of now, is not going to be generalised population kind of thing, but maybe for special needs and special patients who require this third dose,” he added.
Immunocompromised refers to an immune system that is low on defense, affecting its ability to fight off infections and diseases.