The shipment of Sputnik V vaccines arriving at CJIA on Monday
A consignment of 83,000 Sputnik V vaccines landed in Guyana on Monday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, as part of Government’s purchase to immunise 200,000 persons.
The doses sent are divided into 43,000 first and 40,000 second doses. In recent weeks, some 55,000 first doses were sent to Guyana.
The Sputnik V vaccine was developed by Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow. It uses two different viruses that cause the common cold (adenovirus) in humans and these are weakened so they cannot replicate or cause a disease. They are also modified so that the vaccine delivers a code for making the coronavirus spike protein.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony indicated that with the second doses in stock, persons will be completely immunised once they are eligible. This is the third tranche to be delivered but more is expectedly shortly.
“Those persons who would require their second dose will have their second dose ready. Then we’re expecting another batch of the vaccines shortly. So, the vaccines are going to come in tranches and as they come, we’ll continue the distribution,” Dr Anthony shared.
Government has taken a stance of pursuing vaccines vigorously so that every adult can be provided with the opportunity to get inoculated. The Minister said in keeping with this plan, various avenues are being explored.
“Our plan has been and continues to be that we’re securing vaccines for every single adult in Guyana. So, there would be a vaccine for every adult in Guyana. While we secure the vaccine, it is still voluntary so people can decide if they want it or not. Of course, we would prefer if people could come forward and get their vaccine because this is what is going to protect them,” he positioned.
The doses of Sputnik V were purchased to the tune of US$4 million. Another 24,000 doses were sent through the COVAX mechanism – the first tranche from 100,800 shots. The Government of China and India also donated 20,000 and 80,000 vaccines while Barbados sent 3000.
Sputnik uses a different vector for each of the two shots in a course of vaccination. This provides immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots, according to the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). The two shots are given approximately four weeks apart and have proven to be 91 per cent efficacious.
Sputnik V is to be stored at -18°C in its liquid form. However, in its freeze-dried form, it can be stored at 2-8°C, in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure. Sputnik V is approved for use in over 55 countries with a total population of over 1.5 billion people, according to RDIF.
With successes in vaccinating the population, the Health Ministry had said this is an “incredible achievement in an environment where developing countries have had little to no access to COVID-19 vaccines”.
“More than 30 countries have had no access to even a single dose of vaccines as yet. Dozens of countries have only received enough vaccines for less than one per cent of their population. Over the next several days and in the coming weeks, Guyana will pursue access to an even larger amount of vaccines,” a statement had said.
Since April 6, the vaccination rollout has been ramped up with almost 100 fixed sites around the country. There are mobile teams in all ten regions. In addition to these sites, there are special sites organised through a collaboration with religious leaders. (G12)
