Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said yesterday that Guyana will receive some 240,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine next month which “will only satisfy about fifty percent of the need”, but he said negotiations are ongoing to acquire additional doses.
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
It is difficult for the country on its own to successfully make a bid for the vaccines, Ramsammy said, noting that each of the small countries in the region would have had a difficulty negotiating with the companies because they are manufacturing on sizeable orders. He said a country like Guyana that needed a few hundred thousand doses would not have been in a position to secure the vaccines easily.
The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) through the revolving fund was able to secure the vaccines after putting out a bid for the Caribbean and Central and South American region, Ramsammy said. The revolving fund was able to put in a procurement order for 200M doses of vaccines and according to the Minister, various producers submitted proposals to fulfill the request by PAHO.
Ramsammy told reporters that if Guyana is to meet a level of immunization that is going to cover most of the population, around 500,000 of the H1N1 vaccines would be needed and not the 240,000 doses that would be made available. The number of vaccines required depends on the dosage per person. He said that in some instances, one dose has been recommended per person while other suggestions have pointed to two doses.
Since a single dose of the vaccine costs US$7 dollars Ramsammy said the budget would be strained by $700-800M in procurement costs if Guyana decides to make purchases on its own. Due to the limited doses he said the health sector would be identifying vulnerable groups of persons to target among the initial groups to be immunized. He pointed to children under the age of 5 years; pregnant women; the elderly and persons with certain existing health conditions. Additionally, he said they also have to consider health care providers as vulnerable because their occupation puts them at risk.
According to Ramsammy, H1N1 has been affecting persons here between the ages of 15 and 40 years. Immuniza-tion is expected to begin as soon as the vaccines arrive, Ramsammy said, adding that a mass vaccination campaign will kick off. “…Guyana is not new to mass vaccinations, we did it with yellow fever among other things”, Ramsammy noted.
Commenting on whether there are any new developments with H1N1 here, Ramsammy replied in the negative. He said there are still 17 confirmed cases and 14 results pending. He restated a previous comment about there being no reported deaths in Guyana saying, “We wouldn’t hide it because even the best systems in the world have not been able to stop it”. He warned that Guyana will not escape the pandemic without a death. However, he said there may be an opportunity for the country to escape any deaths if people stick to the guidelines. “It is the little, the simple things that will protect people such as practising good hygiene”, he added.
Ramsammy said further that the equipment which Guyana has acquired to do testing for the H1N1 virus will allow health officials to test as doctors make a request. He said that the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) would not accept more than six specimens at a time from Guyana. However, he noted that sometimes Guyana had less then the stated six specimens to send out, but other times there were more.
Meanwhile, the Minister said that Guyana is to receive a special award next month for its immunization programme which he said had been recognized in the past for how successful it is.
He said the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) has selected the country for another award of excellence which would be handed out in Vietnam next month.
5:50am yyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnn
You can yawn all you want sf. If these were the 70’s Guyana would not have seen one dose of this medication.All the money was in Switzerland as you know!!Ask the CIA they will tell you.
Get positive man!
5.50 Am. You appear to be under a tree.
Sounds like the truth to me and not like a.plan to immunize one section of the society.
The minister has lost all credibility that one have to constantally be second guessing and keeping a pinch of salt nearby whenever he speaks.
You know, “god damn it” and such language when cornered. It was not used, therefore he may be telling the truth.
The minister has always had the interests of ALL guyanese at heart. However, anyone can appear abrasive and confrontational when others attempt to create spread lies and deceit. I am glad you can see it from the outside looking in.
Agreed he always have the citizens at heart, that he is prepared to break laws to demonstrate this interest.
We have past that.
Always remember the truth hurts.
If someone is spreading falsehood about you smile and do not get flustered.
On the contrary johnander, I am just that kind of stand up guy. A man with conviction and the balls to defend it. Ramsammy is that kind of person. I know him well.
Johnander.Get a life.If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.
So if the companies are looking to fill larger orders, perhaps they can team up with another country and submit a bid for a larger quantity. If that cannot work, then distribute the hand sanitizer and implore the country to cover up the coughs/sneezes and to always wash hands. Everone should have equal access to the vaccine. Hope they tend to the poorer areas of the country and those at risk first instead of the friends.
could anyone say what is the difference between swine flu amd the common cold
Yes.We have had some deaths in Florida.Swine flu begins initially with flu like symptoms, and continues with the symptoms you read about recently of those yet unsolved cases in Guyana.
Great to know that Guyana is preparing for the outbreak. I love to give credit where credit is due. Get some more if you can. We have a small population. There is no reason we shouldn’t get some more asap.
Meanwhile, 240K is comforting at best.
I am surrised at the negativism of these overseas based Guyanese.The worst of the lot describing the nation doing anything good.People who should be ashamed of themelves if they have any shame.Nobody should take these liars seriously.These counterfeits know that something good is going to be be made available to ailing Guyanese, yet they persist in the loser’s idea of spreading fables.
Stop your crying and take criticism like an adult.
YESTERDAY ABC NEWS REPORTED: US CAN’T KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR H1N1 VACCINES. DEATHS REPORTED IN MANY STATES IN THE US.
Guyana should approach Canada and be in line just in case of excess. I am sure a first come, first basis will be enacted.
They are saying that about a third to a half of the poulation will be infected. Please get inoculted and protect your family and folks who you may come into contact.
Canada has ordered 50.4 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine for a national population of more than 33 million.
The federal government has not decided whether to share any surplus vaccine with other countries.
“It all depends on how many Canadians go out and get the vaccine,” Aglukkaq said. “It’s difficult to say how much extra we might have.”