Guyana says

it is exploring the use of different medications, including the vaccine

developed in Russia, as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries continue to

record deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Health

Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the government is in now in talks with multiple

international organisations to explore different medications to assist Guyana,

where 44 people have died and 1,416 others infected with the virus.

He said that

a letter of intent was signed on August 31, to allow Guyana to be a part of the

COVAX Facility, where 16 vaccines are being examined.

COVAX is the

vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator – which aims

to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and

fundamentally guaranteeing fair and equitable access for every country during

the pandemic.

COVAX is

co-led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI), the

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health

Organisation (WHO).

“By mid-next

year, through this mechanism, we will receive vaccines equivalent to 20 per

cent of our population,” Anthony said.

Last month,

Russia named its first COVID-19 vaccine – Sputnik. Like all vaccines, Sputnik

had to undergo approval. To date, Phase 1 and 2 trials have been completed,

while Phase 3 is in progress.

But Anthony

said that through the Russian Embassy in Guyana, a technical team from the

Health Ministry engaged with the Russian government via a teleconference, to

learn more and grasp a better understanding of the vaccine and its

effectiveness in treating the infectious disease.

He said upon

completion of Phase 3, Guyana can expect to benefit from the Russian-COVID-19

vaccine.

Guyana is

also exploring the use of a generic medication from India known as Remdesivir,

described as an antiviral medication, which is currently being studied to treat

the COVID-19. It has been reported that critically ill patients can benefit

tremendously from this medication.