Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Tuesday, revealed that the 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines that arrived here in recent days have been distributed across the country.
The vaccines were donated by the Chinese and Indian governments; 80, 000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from India arrived on March 07 and 20,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccines from China arrived on March 03.
The Health Minister reiterated that it is not mandatory to take the jab and noted that frontline healthcare workers, who are being vaccinated first, will not be penalised for not taking the vaccine. Healthcare workers in both the private and public sectors, along with persons 60 years and above, are currently being administered the vaccine across the country.
For persons 60 years and over, they can visit health centres or immunization centres in their area and present their national identification card before being administered the vaccine. Before the end of the month, Guyana will receive thousands of doses more of vaccines through the COVAX facility and the CARICOM/ African Union agreement.
The country began its COVID immunization on February 11 with a donation of 3,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from Barbados. These vaccines are to be administered in two doses per individual.
Well done Dr Irfan Ali and Dr Anthony. You must be appreciated by all Guyanese at home and in the diaspora for looking after your people in a timely manner that is caring.