No spoilage of Sputnik V vaccines – Health Minister

− says report of spoilage is “fake news”

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has debunked reports and claims made in sections of the public domain, particularly the Opposition, that there was a spoilage of the Russian-manufactured Sputnik V jabs in Guyana.
Commenting on the issue on Friday, he pointed out that Sputnik doses are currently available for the first shot but the country is awaiting more second doses. The Minister added that given the demand for second jabs, the vaccines are expended within days of arrival.

Consequently, he expressed that such reports are seen as “fake news” in efforts to derail the vaccination campaign locally.
“It’s fake news. We know that we do have Sputnik V first dose that are available and people are getting it. But for the second dose, we don’t have second dose and that’s why we have quite a number of persons that are waiting on it. As soon as those vaccines come in, within a day or two, they are all gone because people are really waiting on the second dose. So, we don’t really have spoilage with Sputnik. That’s obviously fake news and someone who is trying to undermine the vaccination efforts here,” Dr Anthony outlined.
While many persons are awaiting the final shot of the Sputnik vaccine, the Minister advised that the country will receive a consignment soon but stated that Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines are also available for both doses.
“Vaccines is not an issue. If you want to get your first dose, come to any one of the vaccination sites and get your first dose,” he outlined.
Government has procured 400,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines from Dubai. Guyana had 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.
In addition to these three vaccines, the country is expected to get a shipment of Johnson and Johnson vaccines after the Government had made a down payment for the acquisition of 150,000 single-dose vaccines under a partnership agreement between the African Union and the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
Thus far, Guyana has been able to secure 62,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX with more to arrive until 20 per cent of the population is covered.
Another 50,000 jabs are expected to arrive next week. Guyana would have received a donation of 3000 doses of AstraZeneca from Barbados; 84,800 from the United Kingdom and another 80,000 doses from India. China has already sent over 20,000 Sinopharm shots. Government would have also purchased 100,000 more doses.
These vaccines have all been used to vaccinate the Guyanese population. Thus far over 254,000 persons would have received their first shots and just over 100,000 are fully immunised.