Govt rolls out COVID vaccines for children aged 5-11

– parents welcome initiative in light of schools reopening

The introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines for young children was lauded on Saturday by parents who have waited for months so that their children can be protected from the virus.

At the National Cultural Centre, a vaccine drive-thru was organised to commence the rollout of shots for children five to 11 years old. This has been made possible after Guyana received a donation of 52,800 coronavirus paediatric vaccines from the Government of Spain.
However, parents welcomed the efforts to make the vaccines accessible. This is especially since schools have been fully reopened, exposing children to other people and the risks of contracting the virus.
Hermina Gilgeours of Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara brought her nine-year-old son to be immunised and described the process as a “very easy and welcoming” one.
When asked why she decided to get him vaccinated, the parent expressed, “I want him to be protected and to protect others also. My son is very keen in having the vaccine. This morning, he was very excited to come out and get the vaccine.”
Candace Field, another parent, said she was awaiting the availability of the vaccine for some months and did not spare the chance to get her seven-year-old daughter immunised.

“It was actually not a decision made impromptu. I had decided a long time since I took the vaccine myself. Eventually, I contracted COVID. Of course, I was well protected as was said, that the vaccine would protect you. I was not sick for too long. I saw the benefits of the vaccine myself and the benefits of the vaccine in other persons who took it…The numbers are going up again and we just want her to be safe at school.”
Mohamed Dawud from Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) commented that he was eagerly waiting as well for the jabs to be available.
“I’m very happy that he has been vaccinated because I have been waiting for this for a long time, especially with the virus that is going around. So, I’m very happy.”
Public Health Nurse attached to the Health Ministry, Shameka Henry related that there was a consistent turnout of persons for the vaccines, as she encouraged parents to get their children inoculated.

“Even though we’re not seeing children being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, children are affected by COVID presently. The signs and symptoms may not be as present, prevalent or vivid as the adults but they are being affected. It is very important that children be vaccinated so that they can go back to school, to the playground and have interactions with others. A complication is long COVID and in some children, their mental faculty is affected and we’re encouraging the parents to bring their children.”
While children are generally prone to experience a milder form of the infection upon contraction, some have had severe experiences with the disease, and a few have died. This is especially if they are suffering from a comorbid or underlying illness.
At the end of the day, scores of children received their vaccine.