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Guinea uses Russian COVID-19 vaccine on some government officials
Guinea began vaccinating against COVID-19 with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on an experimental basis, starting with government officials, authorities said Thursday.
Guinea has ordered just 55 doses of the Russian vaccine, said Dr. Sakoba Keita, director general of the National Health Security Agency.
“We asked for a small amount of the vaccine, precisely 55 doses. This is the beginning of an order, ”Keita said. “Yesterday we vaccinated 25 senior state officials in this pilot phase. There are 30 doses left and we will continue with the vaccination ”.
Guinea is one of the first African nations to vaccinate its officials.
Defense Minister Mohamed Diane was the first to receive the vaccine. He was shown receiving the vaccine on national television followed by other cabinet ministers receiving the vaccines on Wednesday.
General Bourema Condé, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, spoke after receiving the Russian vaccine.
“This new vaccine is a strong sign. This sign shows the strong will of the president. Today is a sample, and this sample will be doubled ”, he said. “The president wants all Guineans to be in good health in relation to this pandemic.”
Amadou Damaro Camara, president of the country’s legislative body, the National Assembly, was also vaccinated.
“We are the guinea pigs,” he said of receiving the first doses of the vaccine.
“It is a permanent concern of the government to want to fight this disease and we are very happy about it,” he said. “We hope that this vaccine will spread to the rest of the people and that it will be the beginning of the eradication of this disease.”
Tibou Camara, Guinea’s Minister of Industry, also spoke on the television broadcast after being vaccinated.
“We must congratulate and rejoice the Guinean population at a time when the vaccine is coveted and not very accessible for many countries, and our country is a beneficiary,” he said.
Russia does business in the West African nation and Guinea is known for its bauxite mining.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Guinea’s President Alpha Conde after he won a controversial third term in office after a violently contested election in October.
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