The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) has increased the allotment of COVID-19 vaccines to Guyana to combat the diseases responsible for the death of over 170 citizens within the last 10 months. Making the announcement today, was Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
His announcement comes two days after Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali revealed that the country is expected to receive 3,800 doses from the mechanism. Dr Anthony said that since that announcement, COVAX has informed that it was “able to do an indicative allocation of doses of vaccines to Guyana and that is going to be close to 104,000 doses”.
These vaccines will arrive in Guyana “shortly”, he said.
Guyana Standard understands that two doses are required for one person twice in 21 days.
The health official confirmed that these vaccines will be from AstraZeneca, which is currently before the World Health Organisation (WHO) seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA). EUA is a mechanism to facilitate the availability and use of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during public health emergencies.
“So, once WHO greenlights the vaccine, then we’ll be able to get those vaccines in Guyana. The AstraZeneca vaccines have been approved by the UK with an emergency use authorisation. It has recently been approved by the European Union, and it has also been given emergency use authorisation in India. There are a number of other countries who have given emergency use authorisation. So, we’re very happy that they’ve indicated to us that we’ll be getting 104,000 doses as a start and we’ll be working closely with them to see when these vaccines will actually arrive in Guyana. As soon as we get them, we will start rolling out,” he said.
The government has already made it clear that the vaccines will be given first to frontline workers and the elderly.
