Shortage of PVC 13 Vaccine in Guyana


There is currently a shortage of the new PVC 13 vaccine, which was launched in January 2011 in Guyana, and several mothers are complaining that the shortage will some-what put their infants life at risk.

Despite the Health Ministry’s advocacy to promote family health through the improvement of maternal and child health, there still remains a shortage of the vaccine which protects infant and, toddlers against 13 strains of pneumococcal infections

When contacted for a comment, the Ministry of Health’s spokesperson denied such allegation, claiming that there are currently enough PVC 13 vaccines in stock.

However, on February 15, Cabinet gave the ‘green light’ to a US$93,685 contract for the Procurement of Vaccines for the Maternal Child Health programme, of which the PVC 13 is present.