Health authorities in Guyana have managed to administer COVID-19 booster shots to over 1,000 citizens one week after the programme was rolled out, the country’s Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has said. The ‘milestone’ is deem significant given mounting concerns over the variant Omicron overseas, and the established ‘waning’ efficacy observed in initial shots overtime.
“Currently, we have 1,085 persons who took the boosters. We have in Region One zero so far, nobody has come forward to get the booster shot. In Region Two, we have four persons who came forward; Region Three, 77; Region Four, 739; Region Five, 22; Region Six, 173; Region Seven, 12; Region Eight, one; Region Nine, 57, and Region Ten, zero.”
Though persons in Regions One and Ten have not yet come forward for the shot, Minister Anthony said he is optimistic that the programme will gather more traction over the next few weeks.
“I’m optimistic that all persons 50 years and older, would certainly come out and get their booster shot, once it is more than six months out of the second dose. And for those persons who are on the frontline, they need to get their boosters because of the risk of getting COVID-19 infection.”
Booster shots are available for all persons 50 years and above. Government has also made provisions to vaccinate persons 18 years and older with a booster dose if they have comorbidities, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Minister of Health had previously noted, on many occasions, that the COVID-19 vaccines are designed to limit the chances of persons contracting the severe form of the disease, which oftentimes leads to death.
