Another 86,000 doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines have been ordered by the health ministry to continue the ongoing vaccination programme.
This announcement was made by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony during his daily COVID-19 update as he attempted to explain how Guyana ended up with an extra 44,268 first doses of the vaccine.
Dr Anthony stated that the ministry had made two orders of vaccines with the first order accounting for 400,000 doses of the Sputnik V. “That first order that we placed which was the monies that I went to get from the contingency fund and when I was asked those questions I explained then what those monies were for so that’s to take care of 400,000 doses,” he said.
The minister went on to say that in addition to that first order they had also placed an order for 86,000 additional doses which would make up 43,000 of the first-dose component and 43,000 for the second-dose component. Anthony had previously stated that the government had ordered 800,000 doses of Sputnik to cover 400,000 persons and at that time did not mention the additional 86,000.
“In addition to that first order we had also placed an order for 86,000 additional doses which would make up 43,000 first-dose and 43,000 second-dose. We have received the 43,000 first dose and we are now awaiting the 43,000 second dose,” Dr Anthony explained.
To this end he mentioned that in total, Guyana has an outstanding 182,000 second doses to receive. According to the document from the Russian authorities which verified the authenticity of the vaccines here, Guyana has so far received a total of 305,537 Sputnik V shots with 244,268 accounting for the first-dose component and 61,268 accounting for the second doses. This would mean that Guyana would need a total of 183,000 second doses to match the first-dose numbers.
As the country has been out of second-dose Sputnik for over a month, the Minister assured persons who have received their first dose that they will receive a their second shot within the 12-week period. The ministry has received correspondence from the Gamaleya Institute which produces the vaccines that states persons have a four- to twelve-week window to receive their second jab.
The minister added that there are spikes in cases including in Moscow, Russia, and as such they have stepped up their vaccination programme there. Also globally, he said, there is a supply shortage for vaccines.
“And we are working very hard to make sure we get those second doses in before that 12 weeks expires,” Anthony was quoted as saying.
