SPUTNIK V VACCINE APPROVED FOR USE IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Antiguans and Barbudans will soon have options regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph announced on a special interview programme on ABS TV/Radio on Tuesday eveningthat approval has been provided for Russia’s two-dose Sputnik V jab to be used in Antigua and Barbuda. The approval has come from the National Technical Advisory Committee on vaccines with immediate effect. Minister Joseph says the modalities are being finalized for the public roll-out of the 1,000 doses currently in storage and a date will be provided soon. Meanwhile, an additional 1,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are to arrive in the island.

In another major announcement from Sir Molwyn on Tuesday evening, China’s Sinopharm vaccine is to be made available to the public as of Monday, July 19.The country recently received 20,000 doses of the vaccine. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has hitherto been the only vaccine available in Antigua and Barbuda.