More Sputnik V 2nd dose vaccines to arrive by next week

− vaccines for adolescents to arrive “shortly”

Another consignment of Sputnik V second dose vaccines is expected to arrive in Guyana by next week, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
The Minister also noted that the Johnson and Johnson vaccines purchased through a Caricom-African Union are also expected to arrive soon.
“We’re working on that and by next week or so, we hope to get another batch of second dose Sputnik V. Johnson and Johnson as well, we’re awaiting a final date when those vaccines are going to get here but we anticipate that by next week, we’ll have a formal timeline,” the Minister outlined.

The Guyana Government had made a down payment for the acquisition of 150,000 single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccines under a partnership agreement between the two entities. It had also procured 400,000 second doses of Sputnik V vaccines from Dubai. Guyana has experienced a delay in receiving the shipment of the second component after there was a global shortage due to the spike in the Delta variant.
Authorities are working to get vaccines into the country for the adolescent population. Thus far, only the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been approved for this age group. Once the jabs arrive, the Health Ministry will liaison with the Education Ministry to roll out the jabs.
“We’re working to get those vaccines into Guyana. They’re not here as yet but we’re making preparations for the vaccines. The two vaccines that have been approved for children between the ages of 12 to 18 years are basically the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. We’re making efforts to get those and we expect that very shortly, we’ll have those vaccines in Guyana. When we get them, we’ll be working very closely with the Ministry of Education to make sure that we’re able to roll this out to children in school,” the health official detailed.
Dr Anthony further stated that these vaccines are not compulsory but with the circulation of variants across the world, children should be safe when they return to school. He added that children have been developing more severe forms of the virus in recent time – a matter of concern for authorities.
“These vaccines are quite safe. The literature on Pfizer and Moderna is out there for everybody to scrutinize. Millions of doses have been used across the world and the results have been quite good. In terms of administering Pfizer or Moderna to children, because many countries do not have enough vaccines, they have started using the vaccines for their adult population and I suppose when they get enough, they’ll be able to give to the lower age group.”
He added, “The other thing that one would have to understand is with the new Delta variant, it is causing a lot of infections in the United States. Those infections are occurring more in the unvaccinated population and if children remain unvaccinated, unfortunately they can get infected. When they get infected, what we’re seeing now is not a mild form of the disease in children but we’re also seeing a more severe form.”
Since March 2020, over 1567 children under the age of 14 were diagnosed with COVID-19. A few weeks ago, four were admitted into the Intensive Care Unit to seek treatment.
President Irfaan Ali had expressed worry over this trend last month as he was quoted as saying, “Every single person that goes into the hospital to me is alarming, especially children… I’m seriously concerned and we’re monitoring it.”
He noted that although children are not as affected as older adults, many still suffer, especially those with underlying health conditions that the virus feeds off of. He had indicated that it will be a plus if the country receives these vaccines to protect its children.