THE Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) has commended the Government for procuring COVID-19 vaccines in a competitive environment, ensuring that all eligible Guyanese can receive their jabs.

“We wish to recognise and highlight the hard work of the honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and his team at the Ministry of Health to ensure that all Guyanese are vaccinated. At this time we wish to encourage all persons with disabilities and by extension all Guyanese who haven’t received their life-saving vaccine to visit one of the many vaccination sites and get their jabs.  We must reinforce that vaccination is our only proven protection against this dreaded disease and is our only way out of this pandemic.  We are sure all Guyanese have a desire to return to some level of normality; hence, the importance of the majority of Guyanese receiving their vaccines to reach a level of herd immunity,” the GCOPD said in a release.

GCOPD said it also noted, with concern, the high level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Guyanese and is aware of the various conspiracies on the vaccines being peddled by persons with their hidden agendas.

To this, it implored citizens to consume their information on the current COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccines from credible sources.

“We once again encourage all unvaccinated Guyanese, especially our brothers and sisters with disabilities, to get their jabs as soon as possible and protect themselves and families from this disease,” the release said.

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) is the umbrella body that represents the majority of Disable People Organisations (DPOs) from across Guyana, working in the areas of advocacy and capacity building.

The DPOs represents all types of disabilities.