In addition to indicating their interest for Guyana to participate in the COVAX initiative, which currently has the world’s largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has also held talks with India and Russia regarding the vaccines that they are developing.
COVAX is a global initiative working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries with access to safe and effective vaccines. This initiative is a collaboration between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Unlike other countries, Guyana is not participating in any ongoing vaccine trials but according to Anthony, this does not mean that Guyana will not benefit from a potential vaccine. “We would like to be one of the countries that will benefit from a vaccine when it becomes available,” he stated.
During an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Anthony said that as it relates to a potential vaccine, they have indicated Guyana’s interest to participate in the initiative to the persons managing COVAX and the WHO.
He explained that COVAX is an investment facility that is aiming to garner funds from different countries and global institutions to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. He said through financing from various countries, COVAX is hoping to provide 2 billion doses of a vaccine to the countries that have invested in the initiative.
“We as a country we had indicated our willingness to participate with that facility and this investment that they are making. They are looking right now at 13 different vaccine options so whenever one proves successful in the phase three trial that’s the one that they will put more money into so that they can bring it to the stage where people would be able to get the vaccine. So we will be participating in that, we have already indicated that to the WHO and the people managing COVAX so when a vaccine becomes available through that mechanism our hope is that at least we will get enough dosage or doses for about 20-25% of the population and we are hopeful that that will happen sometime either by next year,” he stated.
However, he said they are still exploring other vaccine options and have had preliminary talks with the Russian government, which recently approved a COVID-19 vaccine despite not having completed mass clinical trials. Additionally, he stated that they are still waiting on scientific information about the vaccine and once they have received that, they will assess it and make a decision.
“They are in their phase three trial as well so when that information becomes available we would have our technical team analyze that [the vaccine] to see whether or not that is something that we will want to bring to Guyana,” he stated.
Anthony then disclosed that they have also spoken with the Indian Government and the Serum Institute of India, which is also in a phase three trial of the vaccine they have developed. He added that if that vaccine becomes a viable option, that is another pathway they will pursue.
“So basically we have three major pathways in terms of vaccines,” he said.
Aside from that, Anthony disclosed that they are also looking to procure a drug called remdesivir. He said that the drug has proven effective in other countries and they are currently making efforts to procure the drug.
He disclosed that the WHO had launched a programme called “The Solidarity Trial” to look at the effectiveness of certain medicines. He stated that they have indicated their interest in participating in the trial because one of the medicines that is under review is remdesivir. From all the scientific information they have on the drug it is said that the drug improves the condition of COVID-19 patients who are suffering from severe symptoms of the disease. He added that the drug would also shorten the duration of the disease.
“So we had indicated that we would like to participate in that particular solidarity trial, unfortunately, so far, we have not been listed as one of the countries to participate in that. Nevertheless, because we know that remdesivir has been effective in other countries, we are making efforts to procure it and so we are hopeful that we will be able to get that into the country for review,” he said.
