Guyana today (March 29) received its first shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX Facility boosting the South American country’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The 24,000 doses landed safely at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and were received by senior technocrats from the Ministry of Health as well as EU Ambassador to Guyana Fernando Ponz Cantó.

Guyana, which becomes the third Caribbean country to receive a COVAX-led delivery after Jamaica and Suriname, was also the recipient of a 1,500 AstraZeneca vaccine donation from CARICOM member country Barbados earlier in February.

For his part, Ambassador Cantó remarked that the European Union is committed to working to ensure that everyone who needs a vaccine gets it, anywhere in the world and not only at home.

‘’COVAX is an essential vehicle for delivering on international vaccine solidarity and this first delivery is most welcomed as Guyana is forging ahead with vaccinations’,’ Cantó added.

According to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), in-transit deliveries through the COVAX Facility are next due for The Bahamas, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago.

Belize, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, are expecting their respective shipments of 33,600 doses on Wednesday, March 31, while the Bahamas is officially scheduled to receive its 33,600 shots on Tuesday, March 30.

In total, 16 countries across the Americas have received their first shipments through the COVAX Facility, which officially began with Colombia on March 1.