Region Nine aiming to vaccinate at least 85 per cent of adult population
With over 200 active COVID-19 cases in the Rupununi, Region Nine officials are working to promote inoculation efforts in the hope that by the end of August at least 85 per cent of the adult population will be vaccinated.
Stabroek News spoke with Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock yesterday and was informed that the region currently has 238 active cases, and with that number increasing daily, authorities are focussed on trying to get residents vaccinated as quickly as possible.
Although the number of active cases has dropped compared to two weeks ago, he stressed that the seriousness of the situation has not changed, which is why they are working aggressively to ensure that everyone gets vaccinated. Currently 53.8% of the adult population in the region has been vaccinated.
According to Allicock, the RDC is hoping that by the end of this month, 70% will be vaccinated and by the
end of August, 85%. The aim, he said, is to ensure that infection numbers drop before school reopens in September, noting that vaccinations are so far the only way to exit the pandemic. Further, as it is now, it seems that more persons are getting vaccinated compared to the last month which may be due to the fact that flooding has eased and people can once again resume travelling.
The chairman noted that while there are a few COVID-19 cases scattered around the region in various communities, Lethem and surrounding communities account for the majority of positive cases.