Difficult to tamper with Sputnik vaccines because of cold-storage requirements
Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo
Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo

– Director-General, Health Ministry

THE Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines have to be stored at a cold temperature of about minus 18 degrees celsius at all times, and as such, Director-General of the Health Ministry, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, posited that it would be difficult to tamper with those vaccines while transporting them to Guyana.

Recently, the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, alleged that the Sputnik V vaccines Guyana has procured and has been administering to thousands of people may be fake, since they were purchased through an arrangement with an intermediary, instead of directly from the Russian authorities.

Following the Opposition leader’s statements, a number of officials rebuffed these allegations and assured members of the public that the vaccines were safe for use and continue to be effective in protecting people against the deadly COVID-19 disease.

On Saturday, while responding to a letter requesting the acquisition details for these vaccines, penned by Harmon, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said, “I must express my ministry’s and our government’s disappointment in your statements, which were done without any evidence, deeming the Sputnik V vaccines used in Guyana as “fake”.”

Dr. Anthony, in his correspondence dated June 19, 2021, criticised Harmon for making public statements that could jeopardise the lives of thousands of Guyanese. And, he said that the Opposition Leader should withdraw his statements since he is without evidence to support his claims.

On Sunday, while commenting on the allegations made, Dr. Mahadeo said, “The storage of the vaccines demands certain temperatures, demands certain methods before it comes to Guyana.”

Cognisant of this, the Director-General explained that swapping the ‘real’ vaccines procured from the Russian authorities with ‘fake’ vaccines, since any increase in temperature, for example, would be difficult.

During a recent press conference, the Health Minister explained that indeed these vaccines have to be stored at a cold temperature at all times or else they will spoil. And, importantly, he noted that Guyana encountered some challenges in transporting those vaccines to the country, since some airlines were hesitant about the cold storage responsibility.

“They picked it up from point A, (which is) the manufacturers and they bring it to Guyana, where are you going to get fake stuff from?” Dr. Mahadeo said on Sunday.

As related by the Health Minister at a recent press conference, Dr. Mahadeo also reiterated that the vaccines were procured from a source recommended by the Russian manufacturers themselves.

VARIANT CONCERNS

Meanwhile, Dr. Mahadeo has implored all Guyanese to continue taking their vaccines to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus. Importantly, he said that the emergence of variants of the virus– in particular the new Delta variant that originated in India– seems to be spreading much faster and, therefore, can harm more people who are not protected by the COVID-19 vaccines.

He lamented that if that variant comes to Guyana, there will be specific communities and pockets of people who may be disproportionately impacted since these people would be unvaccinated.

“We will find that these people who listen to the Harmons of this world, they are going to get sick and they are going to die,” the Director-General emphasised.

As such, he deemed the allegations of ‘fake vaccines’ to be quite irresponsible since it could result in the loss of life.

At the recent press conference where he raised the allegations of ‘fake vaccines’, the opposition leader also stated that he would not take any responsibility if people choose not to get their vaccines, following these allegations, and they fall ill.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.