By Sue-Ann Wayow
TO date, out of approximately 90,000 persons between the ages of 12 to 18, 51,751 persons representing 56% of that population have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
And 675 pregnant women were also fully vaccinated.
These figures were revealed by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh who once again appealed for persons to become vaccinated especially those within the 12 to 18 age group and pregnant women as there was no guarantee when another Pfizer stock would be received.
The Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for persons in that particular group and the present stock will expire next month.
Deyalsingh speaking at the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Monday lamented about the low vaccination numbers which he said “has taken a dive,” with 48.5% of the population being vaccinated.
He said, “We seem to be stuck at 48.5% for some days now.”
Just under 100,000 persons have received a booster shot.
Referring to the 12 to 18 age group he said, “That is of particular concern because we want children back out to school. The information that we are getting is that many of the children want to be vaccinated now, but their parents are preventing them and we cannot do that without parental consent.”
Deyalsingh added, “Our current stock of Pfizer vaccine will expire at the end of February 2022. Basically, for that 12 to 18 or anyone else who at this time wishes to accept the Pfizer vaccine, you have a month and a half to do so. We are in the marketplace to get additional stocks with better expiry dates but that is not a guarantee at this point in time.”
The minister said he visited the mass vaccination site at the Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah and there was no line-up for vaccinations which was also very concerning.
