THE number of deaths to COVID-19 in recent weeks is cause for concern which underlines the importance for persons to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available for citizens throughout the country for free, thanks to the hard work and diligent planning by the Government of Guyana.
While Guyana has spent billions of dollars on the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, there are some countries which are yet to receive a dose of the life-saving medicine.
From the statistics on Guyana available as of Tuesday, there is much need to worry. In the first 11 days of this month, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 30 persons. The death toll, as a result of COVID-19, has climbed to 331, and some 14, 531 cases of the virus have been recorded in Guyana thus far.
To date, one of the safest ways to guard against the virus is through vaccination. The top leadership in Guyana has recognised this, and they have ensured that they and their families are vaccinated. With the rising number of deaths and positive cases, businesses have also begun to take precaution.
Practically all of them have systems in place, where customers’ hands are sanitised and their temperature tested. One major company, Giftland Mall, has taken a step further, announcing that it will only hire persons who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

This move by Giftland, no doubt takes into account the current troubling state of the virus, and the impact it could have on its workforce as well as its customer base.
It is not certain if other companies will follow suit with Giftland, but if the current situation continues, from all appearances, it is highly likely they would.
Guyana has taken steps to strengthen restrictions, and the National COVID-19 Task Force has been working to enforce the national COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of citizens. Aside from enforcing safety measures, some countries have also taken bold steps to encourage their citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Israel, for example, which has the highest vaccinated rate in the world and has eased nationwide lockdown, has introduced a vaccination passport.
The certification available in both paper form and an app, is given to persons who are fully vaccinated, and enables them to have access to gyms, hotels and theatres. It also serves as a useful document to enable international travel to certain countries. Denmark is planning to introduce a similar certification, called the coronapas, that will afford holders access to hairdressers, restaurants and cinemas. The UK, Sweden and other European nations are also considering similar plans.
Here in Guyana, since assuming office some nine months ago, the Dr. Irfaan Ali Administration has adopted a balanced approach in the fight against the pandemic. That is, it has maintained restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, while ensuring that the wheels of industry remain in operation.
This was a key step in ensuring that in the fight against the novel coronavirus, businesses do not come to a standstill, and put a further strain and drain on the economy.

Given the posture of the current administration, which is to ensure citizen’s safety while keeping businesses and Government services open, there might come a time when vaccination might be a requirement to access key services, both in the Government and private sector.
It is for this reason, and it cannot be overstated that while hand sanitisation, wearing of mask and observing social distance, are a proven defence against COVID-19, persons should also seek to get vaccinated earliest. One of the reasons some persons have refused to be vaccinated, aside from medical reasons, is due to misinformation in some quarters that the vaccines will be harmful to them. This cannot be further from the truth, as members in senior leadership of both the Government and Opposition have been vaccinated, and nothing has happened to them. With the global upsurge in the pandemic, the demand for COVID-19 vaccines has been ever increasing amid limitation to meet requests from nations the world over. It would not be far-fetched to think that in light of the prevailing situation and other conditions, at some point in time, persons who have not been vaccinated might have to pay to receive it. One can be ahead of these circumstances mentioned by simply taking the vaccine now, now that it is available for free, and to encourage members of their families, friends and neighbours to do likewise.