Guyana to get over 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines
(Georgetown, Guyana) Global vaccine mechanism, COVAX plans to deliver 104,000 doses of the novel coronavirus vaccine to Guyana soon.
This was announced today by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony during the COVID-19 update.
“We have received correspondence from COVAX indicating that they have been able to do an indicative allocation of vaccines to Guyana…and that is going to be close to 104,000 doses of vaccines that we will be getting shortly,” the Health Minister revealed.
The vaccines will come from manufacturer, AstraZeneca.
Presently, the said vaccine is before the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use listing.
“Once the WHO greenlights the vaccine, then we will be able to get those vaccines in Guyana,” the Health Minister said.
The European Union, along with several countries including India and the United Kingdom, have already approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use authorisation.
With Guyana expected to get some 104,000 doses, Health Minister indicated that Guyana is prepared to start the rollout when the doses arrive.
“We’re very happy that they’ve indicated to us that we will be getting 104,000 doses as an initial start…and we would be working closely with them to see when these vaccines would actually arrive in Guyana, and as soon as we get them, we will start rolling out,” he said.
The Health Minister said Guyana is prepared to start delivering the vaccine to the population.
WHAT IS PANCAP?
PANCAP is a Caribbean regional partnership of governments, regional civil society organisations, regional institutions and organisations, bilateral and multilateral agencies and contributing donor partners established on 14 February 2001. PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, and coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilise resources and build the capacity of partners.
What are the Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 targets and commitments?
If targets and commitments in the strategy are achieved:
- The number of people who newly acquire HIV will decrease from 1.7 million in 2019 to less than 370 000 by 2025
- The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses will decrease from 690 000 in 2019 to less than 250 000 in 2025.
- The goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children will see the number of new HIV infections drop from 150,000 in 2019 to less than 22,000 in 2025.
What are the 95-95-95 Targets for ending AIDS?
- 95% of People Living with HIV know their HIV status;
- 95% of people who know their status on treatment; and
- 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, End Inequalities, End AIDS
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/global-aids-strategy-2021-2026-end-inequalities-end-aids/
Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) 2019-2025
https://pancap.org/pancap-documents/caribbean-regional-strategic-framework-2019-2025/