Guyana’s struggles to acquire second dose jabs of the Russian manufactured Sputnik coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is affecting over 80,000 people who are waiting to be fully vaccinated.
At today’s COVID-19 Update, Anthony stated that there is a worldwide shortage of Sputnik vaccines.
But the minister noted that the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which distributes the vaccine, has recommended that the timeframe between doses can be longer than previously anticipated.
“The Russian Direct Investment Fund, had advised that you can prolong the interval between first and second dose up to 90 days. Now, there is more recent advice published by Reuters on July 9. They are indicating that you can actually go up to 180 days. So, [with] that interval a lot of people who have taken their first dose would not have exhausted that long interval,” Anthony stated.
He said the government is working to secure second shots to increase Guyana’s population of persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Guyana had about 200,000 first dose of Sputnik V but less than 100,000 of the second dose.
Guyana has partially vaccinated 337,030 adults (65.7 per cent of the population) and 18,862 (25.9 per cent) children between ages 12-17.
Approximately 175,037 persons (34.1%) are now fully vaccinated.