With some citizens still hesitant about getting vaccinated against COVID-19, the Minister of Health told the National Assembly that there has been no case in Guyana of a fully vaccinated person dying from the virus.

Facing questions from the Opposition about the COVID-19 vaccines, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said while there is the case of someone who received a first dose and later got infected with the virus and died, there has been no case of someone who received both doses falling ill or dying from the virus.

The Health Minister said “since we have been vaccinating people in Guyana, no one that has received both doses of the vaccine, meaning they have been fully vaccinated or fully immunized, no one has died”.

Anthony said persons need to remember that you only become fully immunized after both doses and therefore all the precautions should still be followed after the first dose.

“When you have your first dose of the vaccine, it doesn’t mean that the vaccine automatically starts working. It starts working, but you wouldn’t reach the level of immunity after the first second after you got the vaccine. It takes time for your immune system to produce antibodies and that you have enough antibodies in your body to be able to fight off the virus. In many cases, it takes between 14 to 21 days after the first dose for you to have enough antibodies in your system to fight off any virus and hence at that point in time or a little later, that is why you are given the booster shot, the 2nd dose. People can get sick if they do not wear their mask and keep their distance”, the Health Minister said.

Guyana continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Today, the Ministry of Health reported on four more COVID-19 deaths, taking the total number of deaths to 430.

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