Most of the Sinopharm vaccines recently ordered by the government have arrived in Guyana with the remainder due here on Saturday.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony yesterday during his COVID-19 update where he stated that as a result, the country now has more Sinopharm shots for both first and second doses. Earlier in June, Anthony had announced that the government had ordered 100,000 doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccines at a cost of about US$15 per dose.
“As you would know that during the month we spoke about the Government of Guyana purchasing 100,000 doses so the majority of those doses came in last night,” the minister informed. The Ministry of Health posted the arrival on its Facebook page just around midnight.
The minister went on to say that the authorities would have to do a count to ascertain exactly how many shots were received in this shipment as the entire batch did not come yesterday. However, the final shipment is expected on Saturday.
“This would allow us now to immunise approximately 50,000 people both first and second dose, and as you know the Sinopharm vaccine, what you give as your first dose you also give as your second dose, so we will be keeping 50,000 in storage,” he said, adding that starting yesterday the shots will be distributed to the different regions.
He also pointed out that this vaccine has been using a 4-week interval between first and second doses and he was looking forward to seeing persons come forward to receive their vaccines.
