First ‘flu vaccine’ programme launched in Guyana

Sep 20, 2025 News

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… Health Ministry, PAHO urge annual vaccination

By Allyiah Allicock

Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation – World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) on Friday launched the country’s first National Influenza Vaccination Programme.

The programme was launched at the Eccles Health Centre by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony who was joined by Director of Primary Health Care Service at the Ministry, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. Garoma Dembele, among other health officials.

Dr. Anthony said Friday’s launch represented a historic milestone as it is the first time that the country has launched such a vaccination programme. The minister said that the moment marks a major step forward in strengthening the local health care system, protecting the most vulnerable, and aligning Guyana with the global best practices in disease prevention.

According to the minister, Influenza, which persons would commonly refer to it as flu, is “an acute viral respiratory disease that is mainly caused by influenza A and B viruses.” He noted that symptoms include fever and headaches but made it clear that “influenza really is not that harmless. We think of it that way, but it’s not that harmless.”

According to statistics released by the WHO, globally, influenza affects every year about 1 billion people, and out of that billion, three to five million persons would end up with a severe illness and of those, about 290,000 to 650,000 would die.

Minister Anthony disclosed that one of the challenges that health officials have with the virus is that every year it changes its composition, and that is why every year persons must get an influenza shot.

“So we haven’t come up with one where we can give you a vaccine now, and you will be good for the next 10 years or so. Every year the virus that is circulating would change its genetic composition, and that is why it is important that every year you come and get your influenza vaccine,” he explained.

 

 

Kaieteur News understands that Guyana has been able to source some 15,000 doses of the influenza vaccines which expire in a year.

Dr. Antony disclosed that there are seasonal spikes in flu cases and whenever the spikes occur more persons turn to the healthcare system for treatment. Unfortunately, some are hospitalized and a few die. The minister said it is important to prevent serious ailment due to the virus, and the vaccines are a step in that direction.

Guyana has made significant strides in the fight against influenza through surveillance. “Just a few years ago, we did not know when this seasonal flu happened what was the type of virus that was circulating. It was only last year that we have now put systems in place where whatever flu viruses are circulating, or influenza virus that is circulating, that we can then take these strains and we would be able to determine genetically and otherwise, what are the types of viruses that are circulating in Guyana,” he said.

Having done this type of surveillance, the minister shared that the ministry has been able to join the WHO network where every week they are able to report to the WHO on a system that they have developed that is called ‘flu net’.

Guyana is now part of a global family network and as a result, was able to send samples overseas for testing. Those samples have since been used to make the vaccines.

“So, while we have just started doing this work over the last year, we are already contributing material that can help with the global fight against influenza, and so we feel very proud that we can be part of this global system and contributing knowledge in this way,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony said that the elderly, pregnant woman and small children are considered the most prone to contracting the virus. “We have also seen vulnerability among persons with chronic non-communicable diseases, persons who would have things like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and of course, those persons who have diseases that would compromise their immune system,” he said while noting that healthcare workers are also among the most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the vaccine is called a trivalent influenza vaccine, because “it contains genetic material from the influenza A, which is the H1 N1 virus. It also contains information from the H3 N2 virus, and for the B lineage, we’re using the Victoria B lineage, that’s how they have made this particular vaccine.”

The Minister of Health assured that the vaccine is safe and will not give persons the flu. “That doesn’t mean that you will get flu, because some people believe that if you take the vaccine, that the vaccine can give you flu. That’s not the case,” he said noting that the vaccine is aimed at protecting persons from the flu.

“So while we are going to do the vaccinations, we also have rigid systems in place to ensure that people would be able to access it and if they get any side effects that will be able to record the side effects,” he disclosed.

Dr. Anthony said that like other vaccines, persons may experience side effects which include fever, pain or swelling of the area the vaccine was administered.

“The launch of the influenza vaccination is not just about preventing diseases today. You see, we have all had that recent experience of COVID, and it’s not a matter of if we are going to have another pandemic. It is when we’ll have another pandemic, and so if we want to be more prepared for future pandemics, then doing things like this is very important, because by introducing vaccines like this, getting people to ensure that they come and protect themselves, that’s the right type of behavior that we are portraying, and also training our staff to be able to roll out an effective vaccination program, “he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dembele stated that influenza is a preventative disease that affects the respiratory system and is highly contagious, posing serious threat to public health. He noted that vaccination remains the most effective preventable measure against this disease.

“These annual influenza vaccines that we launch today protect not only individuals but also contribute to the health and safety of the entire community,” he stated while noting that healthcare workers play vital roles in preventing transmission.

Further he said, PAHO reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health in the implementation of the seasonal influenza vaccination, strengthening surveillance systems and advancing influenza pandemic preparedness in Guyana.

The PAHO representative called on the public to take the vaccine annually.

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• Eccles Health Centre, flu vaccine, Influenza Vaccination, Pan American Health Organisation

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