Guinea began Wednesday, December 30, the vaccination of its population against the new coronavirus, on an experimental basis, using the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. For this, Conakry has asked Moscow to deliver two million doses. But it will initially vaccinate a small number of older volunteers.
It was the Minister of Defence, Dr Mohamed Diané, a scientist by training, who was one of the very first to take the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Russian National Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Gamaleïa.
“I have come to show the Guinean people, the people of Guinea, the example and the determination of the government to fight effectively against the pandemic. It’s a process that has begun, it will continue, we will expand to the entire Guinean population so that all those who want to be vaccinated will be vaccinated,” he said.
By taking this vaccine, Mrs. Hawa Béavogui, the Minister of Social Action, is thinking of all the Guinean victims of Covid-19. “In passing, I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and my encouragement to our bedridden patients in our care facilities. I encourage all Guineans to come and test this new vaccine. »
After this pilot phase, the Guinean authorities will decide whether or not to extend the vaccination.
This vaccine is a two-dose vaccine with three weeks between doses,” explains Dr Sakoba Kéita, director of the national health security agency. It is the first dose that will boost their defence mechanism, but in order to reach the quorum or maximum rate, a second dose is needed after the three weeks».
Several political figures have died from the pandemic, of which Guinea has declared more than 13,000 cases of infection and 80 deaths.