Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony today defended the government’s move to now treat partially vaccinated citizens, similar to those who are unvaccinated.

In the new gazetted order, the National COVID-19 Task Force advised that persons must now provide proof of being fully vaccinated to enter public buildings.

According to the government’s vaccination policy, a person will only be considered to be fully vaccinated after receiving the two doses of their COVID-19 vaccine or in the case of Johnson and Johnson, its single dose shot.

The Health Minister believes that persons had a long time to get fully vaccinated. The Minister, who has long complained about persons not returning for their second dose of the vaccine said that the data continues to show the same trend.  He said in some cases, a lot of time has elapsed between doses.

“Now if you only have one dose of the vaccine, it will not be adequate for you to have full protection. And that is why this measure is necessary that people get both doses of the two doses vaccinate and after your second dose, fourteen days after you are considered fully vaccinated,” the Health Minister reminded during today’s covid-19 update.

According to Dr. Anthony, it is important that persons who have not yet taken their second dose of the vaccine to visit a Health facility offering the vaccine and be vaccinated.

The Minister said there will be no exceptions for persons awaiting the second dose because there are adequate vaccines available.

“Whether it’s AstraZeneca, whether it is the Sputnik V, Sinopharm, we have adequate doses available and therefore people should go and take their second dose,” the Minister said.

The Minister also defended the move to extend the curfew hours from 12 midnight to 4 am saying that the disease has been in Guyana for more than a year and a half and persons are aware of what is required of them.

Related posts:

Health Minister urges fully vaccinated to get booster shots for added protection against Omicron Booster doses now available to all fully vaccinated persons above 18-years-old Health Minister reiterates “No fully vaccinated person has died from COVID-19 in Guyana” Health Minister urges persons due for second shot of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines to visit vaccination sites