School children not required to be vaccinated to receive ‘Because We Care’ cash grant

The Government of Guyana has not mandated that students be vaccinated before being issued the ‘Because we Care’ cash grant. Following concerns raised by parents at a recent outreach, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that there is no vaccine requirement for children to benefit from the government’s ‘Because We Care’ or school uniform grants. The children’s vaccine is voluntary, “Nobody is forcing none of our children to take the vaccines, it’s up to the parents.”

Parents were assured that there is no discrimination in the disbursement of the school children’s grant and that vaccination is not linked to any of the support interventions of the administration.

Guyana recently procured the Pfizer vaccine for children in the 5 – 11 age category, and the Ministry of Health is currently rolling out the vaccination campaign.

While vaccination is being encouraged to eliminate the spread of COVID-19, consent is required from parents and is entirely voluntary.

The children’s vaccination programme was rolled out on Friday in Linden by the Region 10 Department of Health at the various primary schools. Primary schools already targeted include the Wismar Hill Primary School, Christianburg Primary School and St. Aiden’s Primary School.

This year each child will be given $30,000 cash which includes $25,000.00 ‘Because we Care’ cash grant and $5,000.00 uniform grant.