32% of police officers fully vaccinated against Covid-19

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FLASHBACK: A Police Officer receiving his COVID-19 vaccine
FLASHBACK: A Police Officer receiving his COVID-19 vaccine

Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Nigel Hoppie has revealed that at least 75 per cent of his officers have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while about 32 per cent of them are fully immunised against the virus.

The Commissioner made the revelation on Wednesday during a press conference. For week, the Police Force has been dodging the question as to the number of ranks that have taken the vaccine.

Police Commissioner Hoppie explained that the numbers were reflective of the statistics as of last week and has since changed the ranks are taking the vaccines daily. He added that the Force continues to encourage its ranks to take the vaccine.

Last week, the Guyana Defence Force announced that 90 per cent of the its ranks received a first dose vaccine with 43 per cent have already returned for their second dose. In addition, the Guyana Prison Service had revealed that almost 60 per cent of officers and staff have been completely immunised.

Based on the prison population, figures highlight that more than 50 per cent of inmates have received a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Prison Service has said that a weekly vaccination drive is organised at each penitentiary, in collaboration with the Health Ministry. Owing to limited spaces in the prison system which often lead to overcrowding, prisoners have tested positive for the virus in the past. But with vaccination now available, they have another layer of protection.

Government has been lobbying for all Guyanese, especially those on the frontline, to be vaccinated in light of the new and deadlier Delta variant. Moreover, it would take the country closer to herd immunity, pegged at about 85 per cent.

So far, 339,206 adults have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, which represents 66.1 per cent of the adult population, while 175,848 or 34.3 per cent have been fully immunised. For children within the age range of 12 to 17, a total 19,131 have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccines.

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