EVEN as he noted the key role community leaders and businesses have to play in the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, Adviser to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy on Sunday said that Guyana has exceeded the 60,000 goal that was set for April 11, 2021.

Dr. Ramsammy, who was visiting Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), told the Guyana Chronicle that the region and several others, including Regions One (Barima-Waini), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are behind the regional target.

However, he was optimistic that a vaccination drive that was being conducted at the Anna Regina Mandir Kendra would be able to contribute significantly to the target.
On Sunday, over 300 persons were vaccinated during the vaccination drive, which was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.
Dr. Ramsammy thanked the region’s religious leaders, especially the imams and pastors, for promoting the vaccination programme. However, he expressed belief that during the vaccination rollout, community leaders and businesses have an integral role to play in ensuring that the population takes the vaccines.

He informed the residents that he was in the region to solicit the help of the community leaders in mobilising persons to take the vaccine. He said that during this new week, there will be massive vaccination drives in the region’s five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

Dr. Ramsammy also challenged young people to use social media to promote positive messages about the vaccines, as the younger generation has an important role to play, and can do so by promoting posts on their social media platforms and encouraging persons to take the vaccine. He explained that the available vaccines are safe and effective, and will save lives. It was noted that the vaccines could also prevent persons from becoming severely ill from the dreaded virus.

“The business community needs to ensure that their employees take their vaccines; vaccines are 100% safe and effective, and it prevents you from going to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), so if you don’t want to take the vaccine, you are only being irresponsible,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

He also challenged the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Ranjeev Singh and his vaccination team to ensure that 3, 000 persons receive the vaccines in a week.
The region has permanent vaccination sites, from Supenaam to Charity. The sites are at Anna Regina, Dartmouth, Queenstown, Suddie, Charity, and Huis T’ Dieren. Several vaccination drives will be rolled out in the Amerindian communities to ensure that their members are vaccinated.

Region Two commenced its vaccination rollout in February. Over 3000 persons, including frontline workers, have already received their first dose.