Nurse administers first shot of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine to Brinnet Bernarai at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Vaccination begins Guyana

GEORGETOWN – 11 February 2021 - Today Guyana commences the distribution of the COVID-19 Vaccine, AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) to Healthcare Workers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Thirty plus Healthcare workers received the vaccine this morning.  Brinnet Bernarai, a Pharmacist of the Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is the first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Yesterday, Guyana received 3000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated from Barbados.  Among the recipients of the vaccine is Dr. Mahendra Carpen, a Cardiologist and the Head of Medical Services, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, said that the vaccines will be distributed to the frontline healthcare workers at the GPHC and the Infectious Diseases Hospital.

There are currently more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in trials. WHO is working in collaboration with scientists, business, and global health organizations through the ACT Accelerator to speed up the pandemic response. People most at risk will be prioritized. While we work towards rolling out a safe and effective vaccine fairly, we must continue the essential public health actions to suppress transmission and reduce mortality.