Pfizer now available as booster to Sputnik V

The Health Ministry announced Monday that the United States made Pfizer vaccine is now
available as a booster for persons who took the Russian Sputnik V as a primary vaccine,
following scientific evaluation.
The ministry disclosed that when they began its booster regimen late last year, persons who took
two doses of the Sputnik V were advised to take the Johnson and Johnson shot as a booster. Dr.
Frank Anthony, Health Minister said a scientific assessment by a medical committee found the
Pfizer vaccine could now be used as a booster.
“Initially when we looked at it, we thought that the most compatible would have been the J&J
vaccine which helps to achieve two things; one to give people their booster doses and secondly,
to travel…,” Dr Anthony said. He added, “And therefore, when the committee would have done
that scientific evaluation, they felt that Pfizer can also be offered and therefore, we have adjusted
the schedule to allow our staff to be able to give that Pfizer dose as a booster.”
Minister Anthony appealed to persons to visit any vaccination site across the country to receive
their booster or third dose, as it has been proven effective in protecting persons against the
disease. “It is proven that once you have your booster dose that you are going to be protected and
therefore those persons who would have had both doses of their vaccines, we are urging them to
make sure that they come back and get their booster dose,” the minister said.
Minister Anthony stressed further that person who took the single dose J&J vaccine should
revisit a vaccination site after two months for a second dose, as the vaccine is no longer being
given as a single dose.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that Guyana will this week receive another batch of 25,000 doses of the
Janssen’s Johnson and Johnson vaccine, as the country continues the fight against the deadly
COVID-19. The health minister said the ministry has been using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
both as a primary shot, as well as a booster to persons who are fully vaccinated with the Sputnik
V vaccine. “In terms of the J&J, while we have limited amounts right now, we are going to get
some this week. We are expecting at least 25, 000 doses this week. So, when we get that again,
those persons who would like to get their boosters with J&J would be able to do that,” he
explained.
He revealed that as of Monday, 414, 235 or 80.3 percent of the adult population took the first
dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while 300, 181 or 58.5 percent are fully immunised. With regards
to the 12 to 17 age cohort, 3, 173 or 42.6 percent took the first dose Pfizer vaccine while 2, 280
or 30.3 percent took both doses of the vaccine.
Dr. Anthony said booster doses continue to increase with 17, 461 persons now better protected
against the deadly virus.