US to donate as many Pfizer vaccines as needed to Guyana

The United States has pledged to donate as many Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines as needed to Guyana in an effort to further support the fight against the pandemic.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch made the announcement at the July 4^th celebration held on Thursday evening at her residence in Georgetown.

“The United States government is prepared to collaborate with Guyana and the Ministry of Health to donate as many Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines as Guyana needs, we are very excited about this.

“This includes boosters and pediatric doses to fully vaccinate and boost all of Guyana’s adults, adolescents and children,” the US diplomat revealed, noting that many people have lost friends, family members and colleagues during this unprecedented time.

In response to the announcement, President Dr Irfaan Ali related that he will have the Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony prepare a letter immediately outlining the country’s needs.

The Head of State said that the US has been supporting Guyana’s fight in the pandemic with donations of equipment, personal protective equipment and vaccine.

“The world today is not only in recovery mode but rebuilding with resilience in everything they do,” President Ali said.

Dr Anthony on Monday announced that Guyana was seeking to procure COVID-19 vaccines for children six months to four years old. This follows after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorisation for children in this age cohort to be vaccinated using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines specifically manufactured for children.

The ministry has been vaccinating children from five to 11 years old. To date over 3,000 children have been inoculated with the first dose of the vaccine.

For adolescents, 47.9 per cent took the first dose and 35.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.