MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Wednesday, noted that none of the three persons who died from COVID-19 complications within the past 24 hours were vaccinated against the deadly virus.
The health minister who made this disclosure during his daily COVID-19 update with the Department of Public Information (DPI), reiterated that while the COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent persons from contracting the virus, it serves as the best protection against it.
“Over the last 24 hours we had three deaths. All of the persons who have died, none of them is vaccinated; so again we know if you’re fully vaccinated your chances of getting severe infections is much lower, your chances of going in the ICU is much lower, your chances of dying from COVID is much lower,” he expressed.
Government has been rolling out an aggressive COVID-19 vaccination programme that gives persons 18 years and above the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves against the virus. Currently, government is offering the Russian-produced Sputnik V vaccine; the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine; and the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
Government has also been distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children age 12 to 17.
In keeping with government’s intensified efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, 325,095 Guyanese or 63.4 % of Guyana’s adult population have received their first dose. Of that number, about 170,125 or 33.2% have received both doses of the vaccine and are now fully vaccinated.
Minister Anthony encouraged citizens to take the necessary precautions against the COVID-19 virus inclusive of wearing masks, sanitizing and getting vaccinated. He reminded citizens that the Delta variant of the virus continues to threaten the health system of several first world countries and urged them to be cognisant of the impact it would have on the country should persons remain unvaccinated.
According to research, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV 2) is deadlier than the original COVID-19 virus; almost 100 per cent more transmissible. It has been found to be more transmissible than the original COVID-19 virus in younger persons. Additionally, the Delta variant affects children more than the original COVID-19 virus.
