Guyana’s Health Ministry will commence the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech second dose this week to adolescents, Minister Dr. Frank Anthony revealed today.
So far, some 20,136 persons between the ages of 12 and 17 have received their first dose. This represents 28.3% of the adolescent population in Guyana.
Meanwhile, 346,529 adults have taken the first dose of a vaccine. This figure is equivalent to 67.6% of the above-18 population, with 179,115 (34.9%) fully inoculated to date.
The Government of Guyana began the adolescent vaccination campaign about three weeks ago, with the intention of reopening schools in Guyana. While some schools were reopened at the beginning of the new academic year this month, more than 17 institutions were forced to close their doors after teachers began testing positive.
Meanwhile, the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is safe and highly effective in young children aged 5 to 11 years, the companies announced earlier today.
“The news should help ease months of anxiety among parents and teachers about when children, and their close contacts, might be shielded from the coronavirus,” the New York Times posted moments ago.
