Vaccination rate lowest among younger population – Health Minister

…over 47,000 persons fully immunised

Younger age groups will now be the target of the Health Ministry’s vaccination campaign, as new cases soar while the vaccination rate remains lowest among this subset.
Some 177,649 persons have received their first dose of the vaccine, amounting to 36.5 per cent of the adult population. For second d

oses, uptake has increased to 47,504 persons or 9.8 per cent.
A breakdown shows that 66.2 per cent of persons 60 years and older have received their first jab; 33.7 per cent for the 40 to 50 age group and 27 per cent in the 18 to 39 category.
According to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, this is an indication that more sensitisation and awareness efforts are needed for this group.
“With the younger age group, that is the 18 to 39 age group, that is the group we will have to work more on because when we look at the number of infections that is occurring, we’re seeing those new cases are predominantly between 18 and 40. This group is more vulnerable to the infection because I guess they’re more active. They’re moving around and coming into contact with persons who are positive,” Dr Anthony shared.
For this, he urged youngsters to take their vaccines, in helping to contain the spread of the virus.
“It is important that we immunise this age group and I would like to make an appeal for the younger persons, people between 18 and 40, to come forward and get their vaccines. This would help us to contain the spread.”
Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), which has seen the lowest vaccination rate has made slight improvements, moving from nine to 11 per cent. However, the other regions have made great progress, with Region Six leading the charts.
Regional statistics show a 39.2 per cent immunisation in Region One (Barima-Waini), 36.4 per cent in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 37.5 per cent in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 36.6 per cent in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 38.5 per cent in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 43.6 per cent in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 37.1 per cent in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 23.9 per cent in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and 34.9 per cent in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). This is an average of 36.4 per cent.
“They (Region 10) were the lowest. They continue to be the lowest there although there have been marginal improvements so we continue to urge the leadership in Region 10, persons who have influence in the community to advocate so that people could go out and get their vaccines. We got to make that appeal to people because we’re seeing an increase in cases in Region 10 as well. We have right now more than 140 active cases in Region and there are communities where we have seen more than 50 cases,” the Minister shared.

Myths
Sensitisation from authorities becomes critical with the circulation of myths in communities, causing people not to get inoculated. It was highlighted that the Ministry is constantly seeking to dispel any untruths so as to influence behavioural change.
“There’s lots of myths circulating pertaining to safety and efficacy of vaccines and then some very weird myths that has nothing to do with the vaccine. So, trying to dispel that, trying to get people to understand that these vaccines are safe, it’s an ongoing process. We have to keep educating and hopefully we’ll get people changing their attitudes,” Dr Anthony detailed.
The source of information, he identified, is the biggest challenge for officials. In most instances, people fail to validate the information that is provided before believing or spreading it to others.
“A lot of time, I don’t think people are analysing proper medical and scientific information. They’re going by hearsay, what somebody would have told them and a lot of time, the sources of authority that they’ve been using is people who really don’t have proper medical or scientific information.”