By Staff Writer
Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony says the Guyana government will continue to administer doses of Sputnik V despite the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon’s objection.
Harmon cast doubt on the efficacy of a batch of 200,000 vaccines recently acquired by the health ministry through Sheik Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who is reported by a Norwegian publication to have accessed jabs from a Norwegian convict, Per Morten Hansen. The Opposition Leader said acquiring vaccines through a ‘questionable’ source coupled with the discovery of ‘fake’ Sputnik V doses in Mexico, he thought it prudent to ‘demand’ that the government suspends its usage of the Russian vaccine until the authenticity of Guyana’s batch is verified.
But the Health Ministry maintains it did not source vaccines from any illegal entity. “At no time did Guyana procure vaccines from any illegal entity or anyone in trouble with legal authorities anywhere. At no time did Guyana access vaccines secretly from anyone. In every instance, the Ministry of Health has followed the established process and has established legally binding contracts to ensure the timely delivery of these vaccines,” it said.
Dr. Anthony went on to label Harmon’s suspicion as ‘mischievous’ and ‘reckless’. He added that his comments have the power to undermine the government’s vaccination programme, while questioning Harmon’s qualifications to speak on health matters.
Pressed this afternoon to disclose how the government learned that Al Maktoum’s was an “authentic source of good vaccines”, Minister Anthony said that the government contracted the Shiek after discussions with the Russia Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
“When we had the discussion with the Russian Direct Investment, they said to us that they have suppliers, who they would normally work with, and one of the suppliers we understood to be [was] the Shiek. Therefore, since he had authentic access to vaccines produced by Gamaleya [Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology] (the manufactures of Sputnik V), we engaged them (Sheik), they said they can supply Guyana with vaccines. We negotiated and we now have vaccines through this particular supplier,” the Minister said.
Dr. Anthony assured that the Shiek’s company has a “track record of dealing with pharmaceuticals and medical products”.
Sputnik V has been listed for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) and will complete that process within the next two months. However, more than 70 countries have moved ahead to grant the vaccine EUA and have begun administering jabs to their citizens.
Dr. Anthony said that no severe adverse effect has been recorded at home or abroad. He reiterated that no double dose recipient has been hospitalised or died of COVID-19.
