WITH COVID-19 vaccination rates remaining low for three administrative regions across Guyana, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, on Tuesday last, issued a sombre warning that a higher number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths could occur if vaccination numbers remained low.

During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, the Health Minister said Regions 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); 8 (Potaro-Siparuni); and 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have relatively low COVID-19 vaccination numbers for first and second doses compared to the rest of the country.

With Region 10 high on the COVID-19 monitor list, the communities of Wismar and Amelia’s Ward are especially areas of interest because of current COVID-19 positivity numbers, Dr Anthony hinted.

Dr Anthony said there has been a decline in the numbers of cases for regions where the COVID-19 vaccination rates are higher. “In the areas where we have a lot of people still remain unvaccinated, unfortunately, we are going to have more cases.

And some of those cases are going to be severe and will require hospitalization,” Dr Anthony lamented.
Guyana currently has 1,836 active COVID-19 cases with 58 persons hospitalized. None of the 58 persons are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Within the last 24 hours, there have been two deaths.

Vaccination numbers continue to climb across the country, but health officials are still monitoring cases in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

The community of Tuschen has featured prominent throughout COVID-19 briefings by the Health Minister over the last few weeks. Dr Anthony confirmed there are currently 45 active cases located there. Other areas of interest include Parika, Parfaite Harmony, Pouderoyen, and Cornelia Ida, all in Region Three.

Region Four, however, has seen a high number of cases recorded for Sophia, Kitty, Campbellville, Cummings Lodge, and Strathspey.

Some 396,000 persons have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine with 271,000 of these already receiving their second dose. Several COVID-19 vaccines are currently being used in Guyana to inoculate the population.

To date, 77% of Guyana’s adult population received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, the health authorities have opened the door for booster shots. Three categories have been identified including persons over the age of 50; frontline workers with co-morbidities; and persons over the age of 18 and living with co-morbidities.

Booster shots are recommended six months after receiving the second dose of two-dose vaccines. For the single-dose Jannsen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, the United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a booster shot if the vaccine was received at least two months ago.

With the concerns expressed of increased hospitalizations, Dr Anthony remains confident that Guyana’s oxygen supply is adequate. The main COVID-19 facility at Ocean View, Liliendaal has been supplied by local manufacturers of oxygen, the Health Minister said.

This capacity will be significantly boosted once the donation of an oxygen plant by the Government of India makes it into Guyana. As a result, however, of global logistics challenges especially in shipping, the arrival of the equipment has been delayed.