No inequality in COVID vaccination, treatment in Guyana – Dr Anthony

…50% of 50,000 booster shots from Region 4
…25 new COVID cases detected within 24 hours

Guyana has crossed the 50,000 mark in the administration of booster doses to the population, of which 50 per cent of the jabs were delivered in Region Four, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
During his update on Tuesday, he stated that the booster dose coverage has reached 50,639.
This accounts for 987 in Region One; 2460 in Region Two; 7112 in Region Three; 25,235 in Region Four; 3198 in Region Five; 8340 in Region Six; 543 in Region Seven; 406 in Region Eight; 1812 in Region Nine; and 548 in Region 10.
He commented during the COVID update, “The message here is that while some regions have been doing very well and you can see from the first dose, there are still places where we need improvement. In Region 10, it’s relatively low compared to Region Four, that is at 94.3 per cent.”
The daily vaccination average is 1500 doses. Latest statistics reveal that 432,381 persons or 84.3 per cent of the adult population received a first dose; with 328,273 or 64 per cent returning for their second shot. In terms of the 12 to 17 cohort, 33,564 first doses and 24,251 second doses have been administered, equivalent to 46 per cent and 33.3 per cent respectively.
A further breakdown of first dose immunisation for adults indicate 17,024 for Region One; 21,656 for Region Two; 60,280 in Region Three; 201,873 for Region Four; 29,017 for Region Five; 62,767 for Region Six; 10,920 for Region Seven; 4156 for Region Eight; 13,010 for Region Nine; and 11,678 for Region 10.

No vaccine inequality
The Health Minister also concluded that vaccine inequality is not the issue in Guyana, but rather, vaccine hesitancy. This is the reason for low statistics in some communities.
“We don’t have an issue with vaccine inequality here in Guyana. As soon as we got vaccines, we were able to get the vaccine out to people. What we have is vaccine hesitancy where a lot of people were not coming forward to take the vaccine. Even now, while we would have had a vaccine programme in place and going to every region, there is still pockets of hesitancy across the country,” the Minister added.

New cases
Currently, 489 active cases are being monitored, inclusive of 43 hospitalised patients. A total of 31 patients are being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital.
On Tuesday, 25 persons tested positive for the virus, maintaining a decline in cases as seen within recent weeks. With the total confirmed cases in the country moving to 62,946 on the Health Ministry’s dashboard, deaths have remained at 1220.
In Guyana, 28,973 males and 33,973 females have been infected, of which 61,267 have recovered. There are nine patients in the designated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 416 in home isolation, 34 in institutional isolation and 10 in institutional quarantine.
An analysis of new infections showed three were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini); six for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); three for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); one for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); and eight for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
No increases were reported in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
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 on 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy .
All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home, the importance of maintaining the six feet of physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene.