Huge shortage of yellow fever and polio vaccines

Minister of Health, Patrick Pengel, recently told Times of Suriname that there is a worldwide shortage of the yellow fever (DKT) vaccine and injectable polio vaccines (bOPV). According to Minister Pengel, Suriname is on the priority list of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) which means that Suriname will receive new supplies as soon as the vaccines are back in stock. The minister could not elaborate on the shortage of these vaccines. Suriname has reportedly opted for an alternative solution which is to borrow vaccines from neighboring Guyana so that children can get vaccinated after all. A shipment of vaccines is expected to arrive at the end of September. The minister does not know, however, what will be in the cargo for Suriname. “A year’s supply of vaccines are ordered and they are delivered in several portions. We get what the supplier sends to us. We get whatever they have in stock,” said Minister Pengel who added that the delay in vaccinations will be taken care of according to the rules of the child vaccination program.

After the vaccines have arrived in Suriname via the PAHO Revolving Fund, Suriname will return 3,000 pentavalent vaccines to Guyana. Minister Pengel also disclosed that Guyana has asked Suriname for protease inhibitors. Suriname will lend a batch of protease inhibitors to Guyana. As soon as Guyana has them back in stock, it will return them to Suriname.