ACCORDING to information released by the Ministry of Health, close to 20,000 persons have already taken their COVID-19 booster shots and that number is growing by the day.

This is good news and the ministry must be commended for making available to all those eligible, especially those who are 50 years and over. And, according to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, the ministry is currently re-examining the age limit having regard to the emergence and spread of the Omicron variant which is now spreading to several parts of the world.

The number fully vaccinated persons is 281,571 which is approximately 36 per cent of the population. This compares favourably with the Latin America and Caribbean average which currently is about 14 per cent of the adult population.

Omicron was first identified officially in South Africa about over two weeks ago but there is evidence to suggest that it may have been in circulation much earlier.

Over a dozen countries have already confirmed cases of the Omicron variant including the United States and neighbouring Brazil. This is of particular concern to us, given our close proximity to Brazil and the social intercourse between Guyana and the United States and Brazil. In the case of the two infected Brazilian missionaries, both had tested negative prior to leaving for South Africa, an indication that they may have contracted the virus during their stay in South Africa.

Scientists around the world are seeking to determine if the new variant is more infectious, deadly and evasive. Preliminary tests done already suggest that the virus has more mutations and is more transmissible which is quite worrisome. Many countries, out of caution, have travel restrictions mainly on flights coming out of South Africa, which is already beginning to hurt the economy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified Omicorn as a ‘variant of concern’ due to the number of mutations that might help it spread or evade antibodies from prior infection or vaccination. Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is urging all Guyanese to take their vaccines as it is the only tool available to protect against the consequences of the deadly novel coronavirus.

According to President Ali, “If it is that this variant is far more infectious, then the only thing that can protect us is the vaccines, the only thing that can slow hospitalisation is the vaccine, the only thing that will slow death rate, and actually very successfully is the vaccination.”

The WHO, on November 26, designated the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.592, named Omicron, a variant of concern (VOC) based on advice from WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution after the variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24.

According to the WHO, the overall global risk related to the new Omicron variant is assessed to be ‘very high’. The WHO found Omicron to have an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are worrying due to their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic.

We are not, as it were out of the woods when it comes to the overcoming the deadly effects of the coronavirus. South Africa is currently experiencing its fourth wave of the virus and is the first country to have reported cases of the Omicorn variant. There is only one way out of the pandemic and that is through vaccination, The Guyana Government has been extremely proactive in its vaccination drive which is highly commendable.

It is now for all eligible Guyanese to do their part and take full advantage of the government’s programmes and policies to safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens from the deadly impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection rate in Guyana has slowed down somewhat over the past weeks and while this is an encouraging trend, it is no reason for complacency, especially in the context of the emergence of new variants, the two most recent of which is the Delta and the Omicorn variants.