-says this group is ‘more vulnerable’

WHILE some 177,659 Guyanese have received the first dose of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm or Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the data has revealed that the rate of vaccination in the younger population is very low.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, in his COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday, said the 177,659 represents 36.5 per cent of the adult population. Additionally, some 47,504 individuals are now fully immunised against the virus having received their second dose and account for 9.8 per cent of the adult population.

The data also recorded lower vaccination rates among the younger population, which comprises persons between the ages of 18 and 39. Only 27.2 per cent of the persons who fall within this age range have received their first dose of the vaccine.

The health minister described this age group as the most “vulnerable” to contracting the deadly virus, and has highlighted that the virus has been most predominant in persons of this age range. He has signalled that more efforts will be made to encourage the younger population to get vaccinated, to protect themselves and those around them from the novel coronavirus.

“This group is more vulnerable to the infection because they are more active; they are moving around, they are coming in contact with persons who are positive and because of that they can spread the infection to others. So, it is important that we immunise this age group,” he said.

The minister said the bulk of vaccines are being administered to the senior population. He said 66.2 per cent of persons over the age of 60 have received their first dose of the vaccine, and 33.7 per cent of persons between the ages of 40 to 59 have received theirs.

While it might appear that the younger population has been hesitant to take the jab, the low vaccination rates may be due to the ministry’s initial message during its rollout campaign, having made it first available to senior citizens and then gradually to other age groups.

Dr. Anthony also disclosed additional data which displayed the vaccination rates of the country’s 10 administrative regions. It was revealed that Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne) has taken the lead in administering the most vaccines with 43.6 per cent of the region’s population having already taken the first jab of the vaccine.

Region One (Barima – Waini) follows with 39.2 per cent and then Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice) with 38.5 per cent. Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) recorded 37.5; Region Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni) 37.1 per cent; Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica), 36.9 per cent; Region Two Pomeroon – Supenaam) 36.4 per cent; Region Nine (Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo) 34.9 per cent and Region Eight (Potaro – Sipuruni) 23.9 per cent.

The Ministry of Health, in a bid to facilitate convenient access to the COVID-19 vaccine, will be hosting its first ‘Drive Thru’ vaccination event today at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank of Demerara from 9:00 hours to 21:00 hours.

This activity will allow persons to be vaccinated without having to leave their vehicles and will afford them the opportunity to receive either their first or second dose of any of the three vaccines that are being administered locally.