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June 22, 2021

…makes U-turn on vaccine claims
…now says authenticity not in question

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has now admitted that the authenticity of the Sputnik V vaccines that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government procured for emergency use, is not in question.

Harmon on Monday made a complete U-turn from his posture last week and said it can be “reasonably presumed” that the Sputnik V vaccines that were procured are authentic.
He also acknowledged that vaccine scarcity was a problem and that the PPP Government, like any Government would, found itself in a difficult position when it came to procuring vaccines. According to him, if the coalition Government was in the PPP’s shoes it would have been “equally desperate” to secure the vaccines.
“It is common public knowledge that there is vaccine scarcity globally and it is exceedingly difficult for small states, such as ours, to access vaccines. He [the Health Minister] offered this, at least in part, as the reason why his Administration opted to purchase billions of dollars of Sputnik V vaccines from Sheik Dalmook Al Maktoum.”
“It is entirely understandable that the PPP Administration found itself in a difficult situation, as any Government would have been, in attempting to secure vaccines for Guyanese,” Harmon said in his statement.
According to the Opposition Leader, his concern only lies with whether the vaccines were handled with proper care and attention, prior to the Government uplifting them from the United Arab Emirates(UAE).  “The greater concern for me, is whether the Sputnik V vaccines sold by the Sheik to Guyana were stored, at all material times, and transported from wherever they were stored to Guyana under the strict and demanding standards for their storage and transportation,” he said.
“COVID vaccine storage has been a key issue from the time the first vaccines were developed. Most COVID vaccines, including Sputnik V, must be stored at an extremely cold temperature well below zero degree.”
Even as Harmon speculates, the Medical Council of Guyana on Saturday endorsed all vaccines currently being used locally to protect against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) including Sputnik, underlining that there have been no overwhelming adverse effects worldwide from these jabs.
On Saturday, the Council stressed that this specific vaccine was the first to be registered and while it is awaiting official approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the data surrounding its use is reassuring. In fact, with the use of Sputnik V in a whopping 74 nations around the world, the organisation declared that there is no doubt it will be given approval from the WHO.
“There is no reason to expect denial of approval for this vaccine from the WHO and other authorities in the coming weeks. 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,” a section of the statement highlights.
The Medical Council noted that Guyana and its neighbours have the requisite technical expertise to analyse scientific data and make appropriate recommendations to policymakers. This was the basis for using the various vaccines in Guyana – independent technical analysis of risk versus benefits.
The statement further clarified, “All of the vaccines available in Guyana, including the Sputnik V, have a 100 per cent record in preventing severe COVID-19 infection defined as admission to ICU, needing ventilatory support or death. In fact, none of the 442 deaths recorded in Guyana were seen in fully (2 doses) vaccinated persons. There have been no overwhelming adverse events reported worldwide for any of the vaccines used in Guyana to date.”
Every adult is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Guyana, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. Persons with a history of severe allergic reactions should seek medical advice before considering the vaccines and are the only group who may not be medically suitable. (G3)

https://guyanatimesgy.com/govt...chase-harmon-admits/

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@Locutus posted:

Given Guyana Times has a bias towards the current administration, I have not verified the contents of the above article against the original source material. If accurate its quite the 180.

Since when ?

Government trying the best to deflect purchasing Sputnik-V from a middle man ,while other Countries purchased Sputnik-V directly from Russia.




Django
Last edited by Django

PPP spin doctors at work

Caught with their drawers down. Pelting wan wan brick to fend off onlookers, especially those wanting a closer look

Hidden procurement process, fraudsters for middlemen, vaccine safety and payment for vaccines exorbitantly priced are all real issues surrounding this calamity.

We want answers

S
Statement of the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Joseph Harmon on false Guyana Times article

APNU Guyana

June 22 ,2021

I take serious offence to a front page article published in today’s edition of the Guyana Times under the headline “Govt made right decision in Sputnik V vaccine purchase - Harmon admits”.
This article is based on completely false information. I did not issue any statement as quoted by the article. My office issued no such statement.
In fact I issued no statement to the media yesterday, nor did I conduct any interview or speak to anyone at the Guyana Times or anyone from any other media house for that matter.
This article is malicious and libellous and seeks to impugn my character and present complete falsehoods to the public as fact. It is despicable and is outside the realm of what can be considered any form of journalism - it is purely falsehood and part of what appears to be a desperate PPP disinformation campaign.
I have instructed my attorneys to take all action permitted within the law against the Guyana Times and all those responsible for the publication of this repugnant article.
It does appear as though the PPP has been caught in a cover up of a corrupt price-gouging deal to purchase vaccines and they are now desperately attempting to distract the public attention from their malfeasance.
I reiterate and reaffirm our position for the suspension of the administering of the Sputnik V vaccines which were procured from one Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum until credible information can be provided about the vaccines’ authenticity and safe storage.
I have articulated a single, unflinching and unchanging position on this issue since the shocking revelations were made in the National Assembly by the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony. I again repeat my call for President Irfaan Ali to address the nation in a coherent and responsible manner and provide clarity to the Guyanese people that their lives and health are not being jeopardized by the PPP’s questionable purchase of over-priced vaccines from Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum for which more than $600million was over-paid based on the world market prices.
This matter is a most serious one which directly relates to the lives and health and wellbeing of the Guyanese people who deserve transparency and credible information and not dismissive, arrogant and flippant treatment. The PPP must provide clear answers and not believe they can casually dismiss the genuine concerns of our people.
We now further call for an independent forensic audit of this transaction with Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum.
Will the PPP and the Guyana Times were concocting their evil, wicked deed yesterday, I was, on behalf of the people of Guyana, writing to the Director General of the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation asking questions to confirm:
(i) that it could not provide the Sputnik V vaccines to the Government of Guyana either directly of via the Russian Direct Investment Fund
(ii) that Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum is a duly authorised distributor of the Sputnik V vaccine and
(iii) that Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum has been supplied with Sputnik V vaccines by the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
The letter was copied to PAHO-WHO, UNICEF, the European Union and the Russian Embassy in Guyana.
-END-
Django

Harmon writes Russian vaccine manufacturer for answers

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 June 2021, 17:03 by Denis Chabrol

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony (left) with a consignment of Sputnik V vaccine on arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (file picture)

Guyana’s Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon  has written to the Russian manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccine, in an effort to authenticate the supplies and the transaction of more than GYD$1 billion worth of doses.

After failing to obtain a formal response to his questions from Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, Mr. Harmon said on Monday that he has Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation asking  a number of questions.

These are whether it could provide the Sputnik V vaccines to the Government of Guyana either directly of via the Russian Direct Investment Fund, if the United Arab Emirates’ Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum is a duly authorised distributor of the Sputnik V vaccine and if he has been supplied with Sputnik V vaccines by the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Mr. Harmon said the letter was copied to the Pan-American Health Organisation-World Health Organisation (PAHO-WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the European Union  and the Russian Embassy in Guyana.

Mr. Harmon alleged that Guyana has overpaid for the vaccines by as much as GYD$600 million.

The Health Ministry has already rejected Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon’s call for the suspension of the Sputnik V vaccine use from the batch of 200,000 jabs that had been purchased until it could be proven that those jabs are safe and that the transaction was above aboard. “This matter is a most serious one which directly relates to the lives and health and wellbeing of the Guyanese people who deserve transparency and credible information and not dismissive, arrogant and flippant treatment. The PPP must provide clear answers and not believe they can casually dismiss the genuine concerns of our people,” he said.

Top government officials have defended the use of the Sputnik V jabs, saying that they are being used by more than 70 countries globally and have since been reciprocally approved by the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Department, the local regulator, the batch numbers are written on vaccination cards that are being issued to recipients, and the batch numbers and other information are verified by the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry has also sought to assure Guyanese that the Sputnik V jabs have been shipped from Russia to the United Arab Emirates, to Florida and then to Guyana at the recommended temperature.

K
@Totaram posted:

I hope Mr. Harmon sues for billions.  Guyana Times is a disgraceful rag.

It certainly is. This nonsense clearly shows that Guyana Times only good use is for the floor of the bird cage.

cain
Last edited by cain
@cain posted:

It certainly is. This nonsense clearly shows that Guyana Times only good use is for the floor of the bird cage.

LOL.....dem bais send LOCO TULSI fuh post shit hay with "meh nah kno if dis true, but alyuh read dis"......LOL

FM
@Locutus posted:

Given Guyana Times has a bias towards the current administration, I have not verified the contents of the above article against the original source material. If accurate its quite the 180.

Loco, have U done the verification? Enough time has passed.

Mitwah
@Locutus posted:

Given Guyana Times has a bias towards the current administration, I have not verified the contents of the above article against the original source material. If accurate its quite the 180.

As the posting said:

  1. The article is from Guyana Times which has a bias toward the current administration. Hint: view the contents in that context.

By the way Guyana Times is a recognized Guyanese newspaper whose articles have been posted here including most recently by the administrator.

  1. I have not verified the contents of the above article. Hint: I cannot attest to the accuracy of the article. Again, comprehend the article in that context.

Note, so far I have exhibited way more responsibility than the average poster on this site who reposts from the PNC or PPP facebook pages. Or even worse, posters who repeat rumours they heard in chat rooms elsewhere that are meant to incite racial hatred.

  1. If accurate its quite the 180. Hint: operative word is “If”.


Final note, communication in the written form has one major advantage, it gives both the writer and the reader the time to exercise comprehension. Use that time wisely.

L
@Locutus posted:

As the posting said:

  1. The article is from Guyana Times which has a bias toward the current administration. Hint: view the contents in that context.

By the way Guyana Times is a recognized Guyanese newspaper whose articles have been posted here including most recently by the administrator.

  1. I have not verified the contents of the above article. Hint: I cannot attest to the accuracy of the article. Again, comprehend the article in that context.

Note, so far I have exhibited way more responsibility than the average poster on this site who reposts from the PNC or PPP facebook pages. Or even worse, posters who repeat rumours they heard in chat rooms elsewhere that are meant to incite racial hatred.

  1. If accurate its quite the 180. Hint: operative word is “If”.


Final note, communication in the written form has one major advantage, it gives both the writer and the reader the time to exercise comprehension. Use that time wisely.

We're not talking about just a bias toward the PPP.   We are talking about outright lying--a total fabrication, mischief at its worst.  I wonder if Guyana has criminal laws against this kind of mischief mischief.  What did Ramson get the police to charge that guy (Matthews?) with recently?  Maybe the police should be involved in this matter while Harmon seeks billions for defamation.

T
@Django posted:

Since when ?

Government trying the best to deflect purchasing Sputnik-V from a middle man ,while other Countries purchased Sputnik-V directly from Russia.




Russian Director confirms Sputnik V vaccines in Guyana are authentic

Alexander Christyakov, the Director-General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has confirmed the authenticity of the 200,000 doses of Sputnik V purchased by Guyana through Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al-Maktoum from Dubai.

The Government of Guyana says that the missive dismisses Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon’s “malicious and reckless statements that the Sputnik V vaccines in Guyana (could be) fake”.

Harmon, some days ago, cast doubt on the authenticity of the doses, relying heavily on an article that implicated the Sheik in some corrupt vaccine arrangement with a convict.

The batch numbers issued by the RDIF matches that of the vaccines received by the Ministry of Health. So now, there is no doubt about the authenticity of the Sputnik V vaccine in Guyana, the Health Ministry said today.

The ministry is calling on Harmon to “publicly withdraw his reckless and irresponsible statements and to issue a public apology to the Guyanese people for the irreparable harm that he has done to the national vaccination program, the distrust that he has created and the vaccine hesitancy that he caused which has indirectly put at risk the lives of many Guyanese. We also call on him to make a forthright statement in support of the vaccination program and to stop playing cheap politics”.

Harmon today called for an independent forensic audit into the government’s deal with the Sheik.

See copy of letter from Alexander Christyakov, the Director-General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF):

[[ Letter -- https://www.guyanastandard.com...uyana-are-authentic/ ]]

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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