Region 10 looking at ways to boost COVID vaccine uptake - Chairman
The Region 10 health department is exploring innovative ways to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Regional Chairman Deron Adams, who blames misinformation for vaccine hesitancy in the region.
Adams made these remarks during a telephone interview yesterday with Stabroek News as he was asked about the Regional Health Department’s most recent initiative of hosting a house-to-house inoculation drive.
“We have been looking at innovative ways to get our people vaccinated and the house-to-house vaccination is one that the office of the Regional Health Officer has activated,” Adams said.
He told this newspaper that the initiative started in Amelia’s Ward but residents’ apprehensions about taking vaccines remain an issue.
“Despite technical officers being on the team to advise and answer questions, persons are somewhat still reluctant. I believe this is as a result of the misinformation that continues to be peddled on social media,” the chairman said.
He went on to say that it might be time to consider different approaches to increase the uptake in vaccinations in the region, which has the lowest percentage of persons receiving their first dose among all ten regions.
One action that Adams said that he is considering is to not take physical meetings with persons who have not been inoculated, in hopes that persons who want to reach out for face-to-face interactions will go to receive their vaccines. “It is unacceptable that persons would want to interact with leaders and other persons knowing that they are putting people’s lives at risk,” he noted.
However, he added that all options will be explored before action is taken so as to ensure that persons within the region do not feel underrepresented.
Adams went on to encourage persons to stop spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories and mentioned that they should only turn to credible sources for information on the virus and vaccines. Adams said that while he has heard persons talking about being afraid of taking the shot as they do not want to get sick, he explained that it is normal for persons to feel some discomfort after taking the vaccine.
Adams told Stabroek News that while some persons are also now questioning taking the vaccine as the Vice Chairman, Douglas Gittens succumbed on Sunday to COVID-19 even after he had received one dose of the vaccine, it should be noted that receiving both doses and becoming fully immunized allows persons to be fully protected.
“In the case of the Vice Chairman, he had only received his first dose so he was still not fully vaccinated… you will have persons asking questions and I think we need the media’s help in getting this and clarifying this so that we can solve the problem, which is the low vaccination rate in the region,” he indicated.
He said that persons continue to spread and circulate inaccurate information as it relates to the death of persons along with COVID-19 and the vaccines.
Adams implored persons to be responsible as it relates to the information that they share. “What I’m fearful of is that the rich persons or wealthy persons who
understand the seriousness will take advantage of this exercise that is free and the poor are not taking advantage and at some point in time if the vaccine becomes something that you have to pay for its going to be difficult for them,” he added.