Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon at a press conference today, called for the suspension of the use of the batch of 200,000 Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines which were procured at ‘exorbitant prices’ of over $600M above market rate by the government from Sheik Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates. A Norwegian newspaper, Verdens Gang, reports that Al Maktoum is allegedly sourcing his vaccines via a Norwegian convict by the name of Per Morten Hansen.
Harmon also noted that a batch of 200,000 fake Sputnik V vaccines was discovered in Mexico. While heavily relying on “information received from sources around the world”, Harmon could not provide any concrete evidence which proves that the vaccines here in Guyana are fake. He in turn, wants the government to give assurance of the authenticity of the vaccines.
The government has already given assurances relating to the procurement of the vaccines, which it maintains were not sourced from questionable characters. In a statement issued yesterday, the Health Ministry said, “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.”
Harmon noted that when the Sputnik V was first being administered, “many were under the impression” that the jabs had acquired Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from international health organisations, but that was not the case. He said that it was later revealed that it was the government’s Food and Drug Department that “granted this approval”.
“The PPP has placed the lives of thousands of Guyanese at risk,” he said, while adding that the procurement of the vaccines from the ‘middleman’ is shrouded in secrecy…The Guyanese people have a right to know more about this.”
“In light of vaccines being bought from middlemen and taking into consideration the global concern of counterfeit vaccines – and that is confirmed by Pfizer manufactures – that the matter of the vaccines purchase is now a safety matter for all citizens in Guyana, a public health concern for the people of this country,” he said.
Harmon is demanding that the Health Ministry provides a detail report of: the price for the vaccines, transshipment, and storage.
“The APNU+AFC demands that this vaccine be put on a hold until the population is given assurance that what we are dealing with is not a bogus transaction,” he concluded.
