Uptake in COVID vaccination, decreasing trend in positive cases – Health Minister

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony on Monday said there has been a decreasing trend in the number of positive COVID-19 infections.

Dr Anthony, during his daily COVID-19 update, also revealed an uptake in persons taking their first shot of their COVID vaccine. To date, 59.1 per cent of those 18 and over have received their first dose while 38.2 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

“We have seen a general uptake in the first dose vaccination which is very good and I want to encourage persons to continue coming and getting their vaccines,” Dr Anthony said.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister also noted that some persons who received their first dose have not returned for their second dose.

A number of persons who took the Russian-made Sputnik V jab have been waiting since April and May for their second dose. But Dr Anthony on Monday assured that Guyana is expecting a weekly supply of second doses of this vaccine.

A total of 5,000 second doses Sputnik V vaccine along with 57,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Guyana on Friday last.

While the country has seen a decline in cases, Dr Anthony is still urging persons to get vaccinated to have some level of protection against the dreaded virus. He explained that with the Delta variant circulating in over 100 countries, it is only a matter of time before it gets here.

“That variant, once it gets into the country it would cause more infections, hospitalisation and even death and you see that predominantly among the unvaccinated,” Dr Anthony explained.

The current death toll from COVID-19 is 574.

At press time, 66 patients are hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Hospital while another 16 are in Intensive Care Unit.