“Big struggle” to get people vaccinated – Health Minister

– 1 new COVID case detected; 4 patients remain in ICU

The health sector is currently witnessing a downward trend in the number of persons showing up to get vaccinated against COVID-19 thus resulting in a slow immunisation uptake.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Monday stated that it is a struggle to get more persons immunised against the coronavirus. The Ministry has continued its roll out of vaccines for both adolescents and adults, with booster doses available for the latter.
“We have noticed a downward trend where people are not coming to be vaccinated. Right now, it’s a big struggle to get people vaccinated. You’re not going to be protected if you don’t get vaccinated. I just want to keep repeating that point,” said the Minister.
The figures provided by the Health Minister have slightly improved from those released last week.
Vaccination statistics show that 438,399 adults or 85.5 per cent of the adult population is immunised with a first dose COVID vaccine. Second doses account for 337,197 or 65.7 per cent.
In the adolescent category, 34,324 first doses or 25,037 second doses have been administered. This is equivalent to 47.1 per cent and 34.3 per cent respectively.
Booster doses have been offered by countries since the data shows that immunity from vaccines start to wane after six months of immunisation. In Guyana, only 58,820 persons have taken their booster shots.
Guyana currently has 85 active COVID cases. From this number, 11 persons are seeking treatment in hospitals – nine of which are at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Four patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Latest statistics released by the Ministry showed that only one person tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
The dashboard showed deaths at 1226 after no fatalities surfaced. Other stats showed that eight persons are in institutional isolation, 68 in home isolation and seven in institutional quarantine.
Out of the 63,273 persons confirmed positive in the country, 61,967 recovered. A total of 29,139 males and 34,134 females were infected within the past two years. Additionally, 572,003 swabs were processed to detect the virus.
“COVID-19 transmission is really done when someone who is infected with COVID sneezes, coughs or even speaks to somebody who is not infected. If that person is not wearing a mask, then those viral particles can get into their nose or mouth. Once they breathe it in, that person would get infected. That is why to interrupt the transmission, it is very important that we wear a mask,” the Health Minister also underscored in his update.
He said a distance of six feet is essential in protecting oneself, since droplets can travel a great distance. Aerosols or tiny particles which remain suspended in air makes it essential to wear a mask indoor or an unventilated space.
If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.
Globally, almost 490 million people have tested positive for the virus and six million have died. In the Americas, more than 150 million confirmed cases have been reported with over 2.7 million deaths.