More Sputnik V second doses, AstraZeneca vaccines here

Another 5,000 second doses of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and 57,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Guyana on Friday afternoon.

A total of 57,600 AstraZeneca doses arrived on Friday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. These vaccines were donated through the COVAX facility, a global mechanism that was created to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

This shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines adds to the 62,400 AstraZeneca doses the country received through the facility from the two earlier shipments.

A number of foreign dignitaries and international representatives were at the airport for a ceremony marking the arrival of the vaccines.

At a press briefing held after the arrival of the vaccines, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana Dr. Luis Codina emphasised that there is “very important data and excellent evidence” to support the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Importantly, he said that across the globe, a majority of the people who are hospitalised after becoming ill with the more severe symptoms of COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

He also announced that 100,000 US-made Pfizer vaccines would arrive in Guyana by next month. And, US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch highlighted that the US would indeed donate more COVID-19 vaccines to Guyana in the coming weeks and months.

British High Commissioner Jane Miller, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman and Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana Fernando Ponz Canto, who were at the airport, also advocated for persons to get vaccinated.

Meanwhile, a quantity of Sputnik V vaccines also arrived on Friday afternoon.

No prior announcement about the arrival of the Sputnik V vaccines was made but a quantity of vaccines was seen offloading from the Amerijet airplane that transported the vaccines from the COVAX facility.

At the press briefing, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said that the Sputnik V vaccines also arrived on Friday.

These second doses, Dr. Anthony explained, will be given to those individuals who received their first Sputnik V vaccine dose in May. And, he said that the rollout of these 5,000 doses is expected to commence by Sunday.

Importantly, the Minister said that another shipment of the Sputnik V vaccines (second doses) is expected by next week.