Children vaccination coverage remains high despite COVID-19 impact – Health Minister

Vaccination Week in the Americas

Even with disruptions to the health system amid the current pandemic, Guyana has been able to maintain a high level of vaccination coverage within the past year for children across the country.

While countries are seeing declining numbers in their immunisation efforts, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said on Saturday that this is not the case for Guyana. As a matter of fact, the country has managed between 90 to 100 per cent coverage in the 18 vaccines offered to children.
“We have developed, over the years, a very strong vaccination programme for our children and over the last year, despite COVID, we have been able to continue that immunisation programme. We’re giving about 18 different vaccines to our children and when I look at the coverage in most countries, you would have seen the coverage of vaccines decline. In Guyana, fortunately, because of the hard work of our staff, we have been able to maintain our vaccination coverage for children between the 90s and in one case, we were able to achieve 100 per cent coverage,” Dr Anthony indicated.
While giving props to the robust system in place to safeguard high numbers, the Minister lauded the work of medical practitioners within the public system that contributes greatly.
“I want to compliment the staff for doing that because without them going that extra mile. Without them going out and making sure that every child is getting their vaccine, this would not have been possible.”
Saturday marked the start of Vaccination Week in the Americas – a time when attention is placed on the strides made in countries to immunise their people. Last year, the Pan American Health Organisation had said that COVID-19 was disrupting life-saving immunisation services around the world, putting millions of children at risk for diseases like diphtheria, measles and polio.
Many countries had temporarily suspended preventive mass vaccination campaigns against diseases like cholera, measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever, due to the risk of transmission and the need to maintain physical distancing during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since March 2020, routine childhood immunisation services have been disrupted on a global scale that may be unprecedented since the inception of expanded programmes on immunisation (EPI) in the 1970s. More than half, 53 per cent of the 129 countries where data were available, reported moderate-to-severe disruptions or a total suspension of vaccination services during March-April 2020,” the Organisation had indicated.
Transportation delays of vaccines had also exacerbated the situation. UNICEF had reported a substantial delay in planned vaccine deliveries due to the lockdown measures and the ensuing decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters. Global vaccine alliance, Gavi then signed an agreement with UNICEF to provide advance funding to cover increased freight costs for delivery of vaccines. (G12)