ACCORDING to data released by the Ministry of Health, the vast number of deaths from COVID-19 is from those who are unvaccinated against the deadly pandemic. Reports suggest that number could be as high as 90 per cent of the unvaccinated. That is more than adequate evidence that the vaccines do work and that there is a positive correlation between deaths from the virus and the unvaccinated.

Why then, one may ask, is there so much hesitancy on the part of some people to take the vaccines even in the face of overwhelming evidence that the vast majority of those who died from the virus could have been alive today if only they were  vaccinated against the virus?

The sad thing about the entire episode is that there is no shortage of the vaccines in Guyana and everyone who is desirous of having the vaccines only has to show up at the numerous sites set up by the Ministry of Health throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is as simple as that. Yet, several persons choose, against the best interests of themselves and their families, not to take the vaccines.

Guyana is one of few countries that has gone out of its way to make the vaccines available to the full universe of the adult population. As pointed out by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, when it comes to the health and safety of the Guyanese people no cost can be considered too high. In fact, a considerable sum of money has been spent by the government to procure the vaccines from whatever sources available. Almost all of the different vaccines available on the market have been sourced by the government at significant sums, but cost has been of little consequence when compared to the health and well-being of the Guyanese people.

So far, over 600,000 persons have already been vaccinated. Of that number, 360,000 were administered with their first doses and over 170,000 have received their second shots and could be considered fully vaccinated. That number is, however, not enough for the country to attain the status of herd immunity, which is so critical if we are to break the back of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the country continues to benefit from the generous donations of vaccines from friendly countries and organisations, the latest being a $205.8M from the Government of Japan. Additionally, the country has so far received donations of personal protective equipment, medical equipment such as ventilators, among other items, from several donor agencies.

The government is doing its part but it will take a collective effort on the part of all Guyanese if we are to effectively stop the spread of the virus in a timely manner. The government is aggressively pushing its vaccination campaigns but there are several other initiatives taken as well to sensitise the population on the dangers of not adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines and the established protocols. Government offices and other private sectors are now insisting that persons show proof of vaccination as a prior condition for gaining entry.

The COVID-passport has now become an important document for the conduct of business in both the public and the private sectors. Many individuals have now resorted to laminating their COVID-19 passports and placing it in their wallets for ease of doing business.

The political opposition has to now come on board. It must, in the national interest, make strong and unequivocal statements in support of the government’s vaccination drive. The COVID-19 virus does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity or political affiliation and the sooner the APNU+AFC Coalition comes to terms with this reality, the better will it be, not only for its own members and supporters, but the society at large. In other words, it must take on an advocacy role in support of vaccination rather than hiding under the fig-leaf of ‘individual choice’.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Health in particular, is doing a commendable job in seeking to attain a position of herd immunity but such efforts are stymied by the political opposition. The infection rates in the meanwhile continue to climb.

Getting to the point of herd immunity is the only way in which, as a society, we can begin to take some comfort but we still have some way to go before we reach that target. Government is aiming, at a minimum, to fully vaccinate a minimum of 500,000 persons in order to reach herd immunity.

However, we are still some distance away from that comfort zone.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through some previous infection.

The message cannot be clearer. Vaccines are both safe and a life saver. We can only ignore such reality at our own peril.