Guyana boosted with over 4000 paediatric Pfizer vaccines from Spain
Guyana received a donation of 4800 Pfizer-BioNTech paediatric and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of Spain through the COVAX mechanism on Monday.
The vaccines will be used to immunise children aged five to 11 against COVID-19. Additionally, more than 8000 adult vaccines are on the way to Guyana.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Narine Singh received the donation from the Non-Resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, Fernando Nogales Alvarez at the Health Ministry’s Kingston, Georgetown bond.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh receiving the Pfizer vaccines from Ambassador Fernando Nogales Alvarez on Monday
Dr Oneka Scott, Director (ag) Maternal and Child Health, said that the donation comes at an opportune for Guyana, adding that the uptake of vaccines has been encouraging despite being at the tail end of the pandemic.
“What is important to understand during a pandemic is that we cannot and never down our guard because that is when we are at risk again,” Dr Scott said.
Spain is the second largest vaccine donor in the region, a feat made possible by Guyana’s steadfast commitment to promoting the importance of vaccination despite the spread of misinformation, Ambassador of Spain, Fernando Nogales Alvarez expressed at the simple handing over ceremony.
“[COVID-19 vaccinations] have proven to be the most scientifically sound approach to a disease that threatened to significantly disrupt our way of living [as well as] the best show of civic duty,” the diplomat added, pointing out that the donation is proof of Spain’s lasting partnership with Guyana.
In accepting the donation, Guyana’s CMO said, “Even though we are at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we still need to continue vaccinations because [they remain] the most important tool in preventing severe morbidity and mortality during COVID-19.”
In 2022, Spain donated 28,000 Janssen vaccines and over 50,000 Pfizer vaccines on separate occasions.
The shipment of the vaccines was facilitated through the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) COVAX Mechanism.
PAHO’s representative, Dr Luis Codina was also present at the event along with representative of the Pan American Health Organisation Dr Janice Woolford and other officials.
