…no adverse effects from vaccines so far – Health Minister
The coronavirus death toll has moved to 195 as of Thursday with the announcement of two more persons succumbing locally.
The latest fatalities are a 38-year-old male from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and a 79-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – both of whom died on Wednesday. 
The Health Ministry informed that these persons died while receiving care at medical facilities. Previously, it was reported that a 65-year-old male from Region Four also died on Wednesday.
His death was announced along with the two other males– a 48-year-old also from Region Four and a 63-year-old from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who were categorised as Tuesday’s deaths.
New cases
There were 28 new cases in one day after 657 samples were sent for testing. According to the Ministry’s dashboard, the total number of confirmed cases in the country is now 8485 – 4391 males and 4097 females.
There are 460 active cases: four in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 418 in home isolation and 10 in institutional isolation. Another 38 persons are also in institutional quarantine. The data shows that 7890 patients have recovered from the life-threatening virus while 63,046 persons have been tested.
Of the new cases, four were detected in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, 17 in Region Four, two in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica), one in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, two in Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu) and two in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
The cases in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) remain at 1019, 234, 463, and 245 respectively.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony informed during the COVID-19 update on Thursday that symptoms from the vaccines were very “short-lived”, as is common with most shots.
“Within a 24-hour period for most people, that disappears. It’s a very short-lived reaction that you’ll get and that’s how you know the immune system is working to produce antibodies that would fight future infections. That’s a very good thing,” he explained.
While the vaccines have been used for a protracted period, health authorities have not witnessed adverse reactions or events from the shots that were administered.
“So far for all the vaccines that we have administered, we haven’t seen any adverse side effects…We have a committee that is set up to monitor any adverse side effects and so, once those things are reported back to the place where you’ve gotten the vaccines and so forth, we would keep a record. But as I said, the most common type of side effects people would get, we expect that from any vaccine.”
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 Emergency Measures (NO.14), which are in effect until February 28, 2021. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, the importance of maintaining six feet of physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The measures expire this weekend, unless extended by the Health Minister. (G12)
