Sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and former MPs from both sides of the House were on Wednesday vaccinated against COVID-19.
The AstraZeneca vaccine was administered to the MPs at Parliament Buildings, Georgetown during a vaccination drive organized by the National Assembly.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir said the vaccines were made available for MPs by President Irfaan Ali sometime last week. It comes as Guyana has only made two groups of persons eligible for vaccination – persons 60 years and above and frontline health workers.
Nadir said with vaccination highly recommended, he is happy to be among the first group of people to receive the jab.
“I feel it is necessary that we not only talk the talk but we do the walk,” he added as he encouraged all eligible persons to get vaccinated.
The Speaker was vaccinated along with his wife. They are both patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
Also receiving the vaccine on Wednesday was former Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Sita Nagamootoo.
The MPs went through the standard registration process before being vaccinated with a June 2021 date for the second jab.
They reported feeling normal after receiving the first dose of the vaccine. While some MPs have refused to take the vaccine at this time, it was made available to Parliamentarians.
Keep the momentum of vaccination going strong HE Dr Ali President of Guyana. Guyana must save its people for the huge task of reconstruction and exponential development to be pursued. You have the best wishes of the people of T&T in your quest to take Guyana into a period of prosperity for all to benefit equitably and to resist Venezuelan imperialism with the help of your international friends.