Pfizer workshop targeted vaccination myths

The recent workshop targeting some 30 participants was to review issues and update their
knowledge of the Pfizer vaccine according to Ms. Shonette Jonas, the chief facilitator and
Nursing Officer from the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Department of the health ministry.
Jonas said the refresher programme was also to help demystify the COVID-19 inoculant and
scotch rumours circulating about the US-manufactured vaccine currently used to vaccinate
adolescents preparing to return for in-person instructions in schools after an 18-month closure
following the outbreak of the pandemic in Guyana which has so far infected 26,611 and killed
647.
“This is a refreshers course as these 37 participants had participated in an earlier workshop in
February of this year dealing with the Pfizer vaccine. They were educated and sensitized on
several issues relating to the vaccine while also addressing concerns, fears and issues that the
public may have,” Nurse Jonas said.
“There are some myths out there and one of them, for example, is that once the child takes the
vaccine, there can be blood clot…or some respiratory disorder. But we are there to clarify the
myths and or concerns that the public may have,” Jonas assured.
She still anticipates pushbacks from pockets of parents.
“I foresee there will be some challenges. As you know, some parents are determined and believe
wholeheartedly that the vaccine is not appropriate and safe for their children. In those cases,
there is little that can be done to convince them, but I am hoping that they will recognise that all
the ministry is seeking to do is to protect their children’s lives.”
“We recognise that there are several myths that will pose some challenges to those children
receiving their vaccines, so I hope that our coverage would be high once we would have started
the roll out of the vaccination campaign,” said an optimistic Jonas, so far satisfied with the
national response among adolescents.

“The Ministry sees the need for continuous training and that is why we had this training so that
the participants will be constantly updated and educated of what they should and need to be
doing as their roles are important in convincing the public that what the ministry seeks to do is in
the best interest of their children,” she explained.
With hesitancy still a huge and stubborn national barrier, Jonas offered Guyanese parents
this counsel: “I would tell them to keep on reading especially from the PAHO/WHO and
MoH websites and not to dwell too much on the negative aspect of the vaccination”.