34,000 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines expected today

Guyana is expected to receive 34,000 doses of the US manufactured Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines today, according to the Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony.

“It took us a while to get all the elements sorted out but I am pleased to say that by today we would be getting those vaccines,” Dr. Anthony said during his daily COVID-19 update.

“Once we receive those vaccines today, we would be able to roll it out in various communities,” he added.

This vaccine is a single-dose vaccine and was procured from CARICOM through an agreement made with the African Union. Dr. Anthony previously stated that the Johnson and Johnson vaccines would be distributed in hinterland communities, especially in those hard-to-reach communities since it is a single-dose vaccine.

The AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines which require two shots are currently being used in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. To date, 58.7 per cent of the adult population received their first dose vaccine while 30 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the government in May made a down payment of $7.5 million (or US $36,000) to secure 150,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The African Union has allocated 1.5 million doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccines to CARICOM and it was expected that the group would receive the first 800,000 doses of the vaccines in July.