STATISTICS do not lie. The statistics show that the vast number of deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus, come from among the unvaccinated segment of the adult population. This observation was made recently by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, who pointed to a clear and unmistakable correlation between the unvaccinated and morbidity rates in so far as the COVID-19 virus is concerned.

The Ministry of Health, conscious of this fact, is intensifying its vaccination campaign. So far, roughly 334,333 adults have received their first dose representing 65.2 per cent of the adult population. A total of 173, 999 have received their second dose which amounts to 33.9 per cent of the adult population. Additionally, some 18,299 children between the ages of 12 and 18 years have already received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTec COVID-19 vaccine.

These statistics do not compare badly by global standards which range from a high of 90 per cent in some countries to a low of less than one per cent in some parts of the underdeveloped world.

Our scientists and researchers must be given credit for rising to the challenge in finding a remedy to this scourge. Within a matter of a few months after the commencement of the pandemic, vaccines were developed with high efficacy rates. The challenge now is to make the vaccines available to people across the globe.

Guyana has done well in terms of making the vaccines available to the full universe of the total population, something which many countries in the world are challenged to achieve. Despite making the resources available to procure the vaccines from suppliers and the goodwill from other agencies and friendly governments in terms of vaccine donations, the vaccine uptake rates were stymied by those with narrow political objectives.

Despite the obvious health benefits of the vaccines, the political opposition and their lackeys in the trade union movement have been using claims about the vaccines to create unrest in the society.

Thankfully, the population as a whole has been much more discerning and has rejected calls by the political opposition to shut down the country. The APNU+AFC and their political side-kick, the Guyana Teachers Union, have had their calls for industrial action largely ignored.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death rates continue to increase with a total of 36 deaths during the course of the last week. According to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, all of the deaths were among the unvaccinated, a clear indication that vaccines are not only safe but a life saver.