While saying that the government continues to work aggressively to procure COVID-19 vaccines for Guyana, President Irfaan Ali on Friday was unable to give an update on how soon needed Sputnik V second doses would be in the country.
Ali was questioned on the sidelines of an event about the procurement of the Sputnik V shots.
The Ministry of Health in late May announced that no second doses were available for the Russian made vaccine in the country due to a delay in supplies. At that time, it was noted that supplies would be made available to Guyana soon.
President Ali said, “We are in constant contact with the supplier and we are hoping [they will be here] very shortly.” He went on to say that the way different countries are dealing with the pandemic is changing, including in Russia, where the shots are being produced.
“You know we have been working aggressively on the vaccines and we have said how difficult these vaccines are to get,” Ali remarked.
He added that he wished Guyanese understood the severity of the situation and how hard the government has been working to ensure that vaccines are procured. “I just wish that all of Guyana understood this especially those who claimed to be leaders and the consequences their negativity can have,” he said.
Guyana has so far received a total of 305,537 doses of the Sputnik V shots so far through five shipments. Some 244,268 are the first dose component while only 61,268 are second dose components, it remains unclear why Guyana did not receive an equal amount of first and second dose components in each tranche.
