Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony says achieving herd immunity at this time would be difficult, since the Covid-19 virus is mutating and newer variants are emerging.
Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease. The spread of disease from person to person becomes unlikely when herd immunity is achieved.
In Guyana, although over 60% of the population has received full immunity, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says it will be 'tough' to achieve herd immunity as re-infections will occur.
“Covid-19 is not operating like that because with newer variants, you get re-infected, so that’s a challenge so re-infection it’s hard to get that herd immunity.”
In order to achieve herd immunity, 80% or more of the population must be fully vaccinated against the virus. According to the Health Minister, what the citizens need to do is to learn to live with the Covid-19 virus.
“With newer variants, it’s gonna be tough to arrive at herd immunity, with newer variants. What we’ll have to learn to do is to live with the virus and at regular intervals be boosted with the boosters that are becoming available.”
Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO) will be conducting an analysis to determine whether Covid-19 should still be considered a pandemic.
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