More than 100,000 people received both ‘COVID’ jabs

More than 100,000 people have received both their first and second doses of one of the three COVID-19 vaccines administered locally and are now deemed to be fully immunised against the severe effects of the disease, COVID-19, according to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony.

During his daily COVID-19 update on Wednesday, the Health Minister said that a total of 229,053 people, or 47.1 per cent of the targeted adult population, have received their first either the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm or Sputnik V vaccines that are currently used in Guyana’s vaccination rollout.

Additionally, he said that 101,246 people had received both their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines; this is approximately 20. 8 per cent of the targeted adult population. Two weeks after receiving their second COVID-19 jab, an individual is considered fully vaccinated.

“I think this is a milestone worth celebrating,” the minister said.

Importantly, the minister highlighted that none of the people who received both doses of the vaccine have been hospitalised with severe symptoms of COVID-19, nor has anyone died. As such, he encouraged more people to get vaccinated.

Furthermore, there has been a 75 per cent vaccination rate among the elderly population of people aged 60 years and older, which was thought to be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of COVID-19.

During his update, the minister also addressed concerns over the continued delay in the supply of the second doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines, which he previously said may have been caused by a surge in the cases in Moscow, Russian.

“I think globally there would be an issue with supply… Nevertheless, we continue to work to get those vaccines into Guyana,” he said.

He assured members of the public that these second doses of the Sputnik V vaccines, needed to complete the immunisation of individuals who already received their first doses, would be brought into the country before the 12-week interval for those who received their first dose but not the second dose is completed.

The minister also related that an additional 43,000 second doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines were ordered by the Ministry of Health to bolster the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination rollout.