PLUGGING the need for all persons to be vaccinated especially those with underlying illnesses, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, opined that it is safe for persons living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Health Minister, speaking during the daily COVID-19 update on Tuesday, said with HIV being an underlying illness, persons living with the virus should be encouraged to build their immune systems against the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Dr Anthony said an estimated 9,081 persons live with HIV in Guyana. He added that while these persons were receiving treatment, approximately 2,400 of them stopped their treatments during the pandemic, which has made it difficult for them to be located.

He said that in the public health sector, some 6,681 persons are being supported. Of that number, Minister Anthony continued, approximately 5,224 of them have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 3,839 have received the second dose and are fully-vaccinated.

As far as booster shots are concerned, the Minister said some persons living with HIV might have depressed immune systems and should therefore get their booster COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr Anthony shared that although the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Guyana is relatively high, it could be better as it relates to immunising persons living with HIV.

In some countries, he noted further, two booster shots have been recommended for persons living with HIV.

Asked whether persons with HIV have worse side effects resulting from the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Anthony responded in the negative.

“It’s like any other patient. Generally, when you get vaccinated, depending on your individual make-up, some people might experience a little pain at the site of the vaccine. Some might get a little bit of fever,” he explained.

For children under 12-years-old who do not have the legal capacity to consent to taking the vaccine without a parent, Dr Anthony noted that where there are children living with HIV, parents should ensure the child has received their antiretroviral medication and are able to suppress the HIV virus.

“If they are doing that, then the chances of the HIV virus (sic) compromising their immune system is relatively small… [and] they need to follow all the public health measures we put in place including wearing mask, and sanitising and keeping social distance,” Dr Anthony said.

Approximately 1,867 vaccines have been administered within the last 24 hours for adults, children between 12 to 17, and booster doses, the Health Minister confirmed based on data available to him.

He said the data reflect that older persons have presented themselves to receive the vaccine. So far, 426,841 persons have received the first dose vaccine for the adult population, with 318,677 persons receiving their second dose.

For children between 12 to 17 years, 32,921 persons have received first dose vaccines with 23,466 persons receiving second dose vaccines.

In the last 24 hours, 141 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded. Currently there are approximately 5000 persons with COVID-19 in Guyana, a significant decline from the beginning of the year. Dr Anthony expects this number to continue to decline in the coming weeks and months.