More persons taking US made Pfizer vaccine – Health Minister

─ cases decreasing with increased vaccination

Since government made the Pfizer vaccine available to citizens in Guyana last Monday, persons have been flooding vaccination sites for the United States made vaccine.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, MP, is impressed by the interest being shown by the public in getting vaccinated.

“I think by and large, people are coming forward to get vaccinated. I’ve seen now the preferences to get Pfizer or Sinopharm and those who would have received their first dose Astra Zeneca, they’re coming to get their second dose. So, I think people are trying to get themselves in order to be fully vaccinated which is a positive thing.”

While the vaccines are in demand, available also are the AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Minister Anthony reiterated that there is no shortage.

He said that as more persons are taking vaccination more seriously, the infection rate is also decreasing.

“Because of our levels of vaccination, in Region Four has one of the highest levels of vaccination. And we would have also seen if you have less cases, you would have less hospitalisations and less deaths.”

Despite, the decrease in cases, Dr. Anthony is urging that there be no complacency towards the established covid guidelines of regular hand washing, sanitising, physical distancing and mask wearing.

As of Tuesday, 388,444 persons, 18 years and older received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while 255, 650 of those took the second dose.

For persons 12 to 18 years, 28, 045 took the first shot, and 19, 138 returned for the second dose.