Dear Editor,
Thank you for this opportunity to share my views. The current rollout of vaccines in Guyana is continuing apace, but I am curious as to why not a single newspaper or social or online media outlet has bothered to inform the population that the Russian and Chinese COVID-19 vaccines have not been approved by the World Health Organization.
Shouldn’t persons be given all of the necessary information if they are making a decision to get vaccinated and isn’t it one of responsibilities of the media to provide this information?
While countries are free to authorize any vaccine they choose to, WHO approval carries with it a certain assurance and a certain level of comfort given its status as the premier health organization in the world.
Why hasn’t the media questioned the relevant authorities about the vaccine approval process in Guyana? Does anyone know on what basis these vaccines were approved? What data did the Guyana Government use in granting approval?
I trust that the media would fulfill its role and seek the necessary answers.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
Editor’s note: In February this year, it was reported that the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department had granted emergency use approval of the Russian Sputnik V and China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines in Guyana.
