Russian-manufactured Sputnik V not embraced in the Caribbean

ONLY GUYANA AND ANTIGUA & BARBUDA SO FAR APPROVE THE USE OF THE
RUSSIAN-MANUFACTURED vaccine Sputnik V in the fight against the contagious and
deadly COVID-19. Other regional territories opt for those the World Health Organisation
(WHO) backs.
“It is only Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda that are giving the Sputnik V vaccines as all the
other Caribbean countries are offering something else,” a well-respected Caribbean medical
source told www.aroundtheregions.com in an exclusive Saturday.
Ms. Akilah Bryon Nisbett, Minister of Health of St. Kitts and Nevis, confirmed that her country
isn’t offering the Russian-made vaccine because it is not yet approved by the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
St. Kitts & Nevis which recorded one death so far from COVID-19 is using AstraZeneca to
inoculate its residents, Minister Bryon Nisbett said during the interview.
The health minister attributed the success currently enjoyed by the Caribbean Island in the fight
against the global pandemic on their aggressive, scientific, evidence-based planning
“We have been guided by science and continue to be guided by such,” the minister said.
The country will continue to be guided by the global WHO in their choice of vaccines minister
Bryon-Nisbett maintained.
“St. Kitts and Nevis have taken the decision to use vaccines which have WHO emergency use
authorization.”
Only fully vaccinated visitors must undergo nine days mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the
country.

“Fully vaccinated persons, that is persons who have had their second shot and it has been two
weeks since vaccinated, will be asked to quarantine for nine days,” Minister Bryon Nisbett
confirmed.
“How we treat persons vaccinated with specific vaccines, science will guide that decision-
making process,” she assured.
“I can only speak to what St Kitts and Nevis position is on vaccines, and that is that we will use
the vaccines that have WHO EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation),” the government minister
declared when pressed on her country’s position on Sputnik V.
In Barbados, visitors must be quarantined 14 days even if they provide evidence that they have
been fully vaccinated by Sputnik. With other brands, they must be quarantined between two to
seven days upon landing in the CARICOM country.

Meanwhile in the CARICOM headquarter-state Guyana, the main opposition and the
government are sparring over the procurement cost and efficacy of the Sputnik V.

The main parliamentary opposition coalition A Partnerahip for National Unity, Alliance For
Change (APNU+AFC) this week accused the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)
government of procuring the vaccine at twice WHO-suggested prices through an interlocutor on
a ‘Wanted List’ warning that the vaccine could be fake.
The government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) in a statement said 74 countries are
currently using the vaccine and can vouch for its safety, efficacy and availability.
“There is no reason to expect denial of approval for this Vaccine from the WHO and other
authorities in the coming weeks,” the DPI statement said. It said “this is the same process that
has occurred with all of the other available vaccines prior to WHO approval where countries
have adopted a policy of “USE” pending approval after careful evaluation by their own technical
team.”

“Guyana and its neighbours have the requisite technical expertise to analyse scientific data and
make appropriate recommendations to our policy makers. This was the basis for using the
various Vaccines in Guyana – Independent technical analysis of Risk versus Benefits,” the DPI
statement assured.
Guyana also uses the other vaccines to fight COVID-19, and according to the DPI statement all
“have a 100% record in preventing SEVERE COVID 19 Infection defined as admission to ICU,
needing ventilatory support or death.

The Medical Council of Guyana supports the use of the Sputnik V and is advising all
Guyanese to be vaccinated to enjoy “the same protection as frontline workers” DPI said.