2nd booster dose to be offered from June 1 – Health Minister

…first booster for teens to be available
…paediatric vaccines to arrive in 2 weeks

From the beginning of June, the Health Ministry will be offering a second booster shot for the adult population and a first booster jab for adolescents.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made the announcement on Monday, adding that the shots will be available at all vaccination sites.

The Health Ministry is currently utilising Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer vaccines to continue its immunisation campaign. However, Government is expecting a shipment of paediatric Pfizer vaccines, used for children between the ages of five and 11 years.
“We are also expecting to get the paediatric Pfizer vaccines…By the second week in June, we will start making these vaccines available. It would allow us to adequately train our staff in the use of the vaccines and once we do that, we will start rolling out that vaccines for the five to 11 age group,” Dr Anthony shared.
Vaccination figures show 441,994 first doses being administered to adults, accounting for 86.2 per cent. Meanwhile, 341,574 second doses or 66.6 per cent coverage has been achieved.
For the 12 to 17 category, 34,691 or 47.6 per cent first doses were administered, followed by 25,416 or 34.8 per cent second doses. Booster shots were listed at 65,145.
“We have adequate supplies of vaccines right now and when it is necessary, we will get more. Right now, we have adequate supplies,” added the Health Minister, when asked if Guyana has enough vaccines to roll out a second booster dose.
The Minister explained again that having a booster dose is essential in upkeeping immunity against the novel coronavirus. When immunity wanes, the risk of contracting the virus heightens. After approximately six months since a shot is administered, the protection would decrease, leaving the individual susceptible to infection.
“Since we have been vaccinating people, one of the things that we have noticed is that after about six months, the immunity that you would have developed from the vaccine would start dropping. Therefore, there is an absolute need for you to get a booster dose. We have been appealing to persons to come out and get their booster doses because from the numbers we’re seeing, a lot of people received their primary doses but many of them have not come back for their booster dose. By now, their immunity would have dropped and they would be at risk.”
Despite sensitisation on vaccine importance in the country, he contended that coverage remains low in recent time.
“We haven’t seen a lot of persons coming forward to get vaccinated, despite the many appeals that we have been making to people. By now, everybody should know that with vaccination, you get protection. If you’re not vaccinated, you can get infected and get a more severe form of COVID, especially if you have underlying illnesses.”
Comorbid conditions or underlying conditions include cancer, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, chronic lung diseases, chronic liver diseases, diabetes, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, HIV, mental health disorders, neurological conditions, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis, solid organ transplant patients, smokers or those with substance use disorder.