Use of Sputnik V should be put on hold until govt answers key questions – Harmon

Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon wants the Ali led government to release all documents related to the purchase and importation of the Sputnik V vaccines as he is calling that the government put the use of these vaccines on hold until these documents are released and key questions answered. “These vaccines should be put on hold,” Harmon told the media on Thursday morning, as he said the country needs assurances that it is “not dealing with a bogus drug.”

These vaccines were acquired through an arrangement with Dubai’s Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al-Maktoum and a Norwegian businessman.

The government has spent some $1.2 billion for the purchase of the Sputnik V vaccine and later sought approval from the National Assembly for that sum and another $275 million for another batch of the said vaccines.

On Thursday, Harmon labelled the situation a “public health concern,” as he demanded the government release information on batch numbers, details of shipping, importation documents and conditions under which these vaccines were stored.

“This is a matter of safety,” Harmon told the media as he said these details should be made available to ensure Guyana did not purchase counterfeit vaccines.

“We are not challenging the efficacy of the vaccines,”  Harmon pointed out, “we are concerned that we get the real deal.”

To this end, the Leader of the Opposition called on the President to give “full disclosure” on this matter.