The Ministry of Education’s COVID-19 vaccination drive for children at MovieTowne, Georgetown, kicked off on Sunday in what could be described as the largest vaccination event seen in Guyana since the government commenced its campaign to achieve herd immunity.
Hundreds of parents took advantage of the opportunity to get their kids vaccinated against the dreaded virus with the US FDA approved Pfizer vaccine; some stood in the sun even before the 9 am starting time while others made use of the drive-thru vaccination section.
Shivana Carriro was one parent who stood in line with her daughter Mia, a student of St. Joseph’s High. She said her daughter made the choice to get the vaccine.
“I am a fully vaccinated parent, and my daughter wanted the vaccine,” Carriro told the News Room adding, “school is reopening and this is the only way I can protect her so the vaccine adds another layer of protection to my child.”
Mia, who said she was “a little scared of needles, noted that the vaccine was necessary for her as she would like to return to school.
Debra Singh brought the entire family out for the ride to get her son Nathan Singh vaccinated using the drive-thru section.
“We believe in the vaccine and we just want an end to this pandemic,” Singh said.
“Like everybody else, we want to go back to a sense of normalcy and this is the best way we can do it.”
Nathan took his vaccine and encouraged others to come out and get vaccinated as well.
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‘Incredible support’
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manikchand lauded the event and also the parents for the “incredible support” seen at the vaccine drive.
“What’s happening here is incredible, we are so thankful for the support,” the minister said.
“I want to thank Ansa McAL and KFC for partnering with us because this is an important cause and everybody, businesses, the private sector, the quicker we get back to a normal place is the quicker we can get back to our lives.
“Right now, we are trying to fend off something and we can fend it off effectively if we are all vaccinated,” she continued.
Now that Guyana has access to the Pfizer vaccines, the Education Minister added that the country is in an “optimal position” as many countries are struggling to get vaccines for their population.
The Education Minister emphasised that since there is a limited amount of vaccines with only a limited time to use to it, persons should “come now and get it.”
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, who was also at the event, stated that the government plans to take the vaccination drive countrywide over the next weeks as students prepare for school to reopen on September 6.
The Health Minister estimated that over 1,000 adolescents from 12 to 17 years old would have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Guyana received its first shipment of Pfizer vaccines earlier this week as a donation from the United States of America.
The future leaders of the Country getting vaccinated.