Covid-19 Do not divide us on type of COVID vaccine taken: Irfaan Ali

Addressing the 76th session of the United Nations

General Assembly in New

York, President Irfaan Ali last week urged that the movement of people not be curtailed based on the

COVID-19 vaccines they took and he also upped the pressure on Venezuela over the border controversy between the two countries. “The access to vaccines saw the world polarised. I know, I speak on behalf of many leaders when I say that we must not now hurt our efforts at ending this polarisation of access to vaccines by implementing measures that divide us and curtail our movement based on the type of vaccines our people took. Indeed, our efforts must be focused on full vaccination and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Millions took the vaccines which were available at a time of much uncertainty, and they are the unsung heroes. They must not now be the subject of restrictions based on the vaccines they took”, the President said. Ali’s plea comes in the wake of the non-acceptance by some countries of vaccines in use here. This week the United States announced that from November all visitors will have to be double- vaccinated and a decision will be made on which vaccines will be accepted. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been the major jab in use here but it is still to receive World Health Organisation approval for emergency use. If Washington doesn’t recognise this vaccine it means that Guyanese who have received it might be prohibited from entering the US or would have to face quarantine. Another option would be for these persons take one of the vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The President also spoke on the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the road to recovery. “Mr. President, the pandemic has wrecked Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development that the members of this Organisation adopted in 2015.