-Guyana targets 60,000 HPV vaccinations

Guyana and the Caribbean have launched Vaccination Week 2026, with a renewed push to strengthen immunisation efforts and protect every citizen.

Speaking at the launch at Uman Yana, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announced an intensified campaign to boost the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, aiming to protect against cervical cancer and improve coverage across all vaccines.

 Dr. Anthony highlighted that the focus is now on strengthening immunisation programmess to close remaining gaps, particularly for one antigen that currently stands at a 91 per cent coverage.

The goal is to reach at least 95 per cent by ensuring every eligible child receive their vaccines. He also outlined an ambitious target of vaccinating 6,000 persons against HPV. 

“I hope that during this month that we spend enough time to get people out, sensitise them, bring them out, make sure that by the end of this month we’ll be able to not just do 26,000 but I’m looking for at least 60,000 people being vaccinated,” he said.

The theme for Vaccination Week is, “Your decision makes a difference: prevention is protection, vaccinate now!”.

Health leaders emphasise the importance of vaccination in saving lives and protecting communities. However, they caution that misinformation, particularly online, threatens to undermine progress and hinder high vaccination rates.