Johnson & Johnson vaccines expected today – Min. Anthony

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, says the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Jansen, is expected to arrive in Guyana today.

The Health Minister made this announcement during today’s COVID-19 Update. Dr. Anthony said once received, it will be rolled out.

“It took us a while to get all the elements sorted out but I am pleased to say that by today we would be getting those vaccines. Once we receive those vaccines today, we would be able to roll it out in various communities.”

The procurement of the single dose vaccine was done through an agreement with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and will be used in the Government’s COVID-19 immunisation campaign, particularly in remote parts of the country.

During a recent COVID-19 update, Minister Anthony explained that it is more practical to use the vaccines in far flung communities as it is a single shot.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was givenemergency use authorisation earlier in the year by the United States of America Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is the third vaccine that was approved by the FDA and is said to prevent COVID-19 in persons 18 years and older.

In February, Dr. Anthony told the National Assembly that CARICOM and the African Union have brokered an agreement where 1.5 million doses of vaccines were allocated to the Caribbean, with Guyana expected to receive at least 140,000 doses.

The arrival of the vaccines will boost the Government’s vaccination programme. To date, 301,368 persons or 58.7 per cent of the country’s adult population have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 30 per cent or 153,840 persons are fully immunised.

Individuals 18 years and older are encouraged to visit any one of the vaccination sites to receive their jabs, to protect themselves against the deadly disease. The Government is actively pursuing the procurement of the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children from ages 12 to 17.