Thread by @mmnjug

As the scramble for Covid-19 vaccine jab intensifies in the country due to a deadly third wave, #SputnikV, the controversial Russian vaccine has found its way in the country. - @NationAfrica

.@MOH_Kenya however insists it is not part of any agreement allowing distribution and sale of the Russian vaccine to Kenyans at a cost of Sh11,000 per jab.

Dr Willis Akhwale, who is Kenya's vaccine advisory taskforce chairman said that he is not privy to any discussions with anyone that arrived at such a decision at the ministry.

Official communication between some @MOH_Kenya officials as seen by @NationAfrica mentions Harleys and Unisel as distributors appointed by Dinlas EPZ who have a long-term relationship with Gamaleya as the ones interested in getting an approval to distribute the vaccine in Kenya.

The drug control board in response to queries has denied any involvement in the distribution of the vaccine maintaining that its role in all these has only been to test and give approvals for the use but not distribution and pricing.

Over a week ago, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the country's sovereign wealth fund, announced the approval of the use of Sputnik V in Kenya on its official website.

The efficacy of the vaccine is rated at 91.6% as per data published in the Lancet, one of the world's most trusted medical journals. This means that Sputnik V is one of three vaccines in the world with efficacy of over 90%.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board then confirmed that the Russian vaccine application had indeed been evaluated and approved. But this did not imply registration, according to the regulator.

Investigations by @NationAfrica led to a Kenyan man of Asian descent in Nairobi along Lenana Road who claims to be among the distributors of the vaccine.

The middle-aged man disclosed that the consignment of Sputnik V vaccines had made its way into the country through the port of Mombasa and was awaiting to be sold.

Mombasa is Africa's fifth-busiest harbor handling cargo for the whole of East Africa and parts of Central Africa according to a 2020 report by financial advisory firm Okan and the Africa CEO Forum.

Unfortunately, the coastal city has the reputation of being a major entry point for narcotics from the Middle East and illicit pharmaceuticals from Asia, according to ENACT Observer.

As from 2020 there has been increasing talk in East African intelligence and law enforcement circles on the role Mombasa could play in facilitating shipments of falsified and substandard Covid-19 vaccines.

Another member of Kenya's vaccine taskforce who sought anonymity confirmed that indeed an unknown quantity of the Russian vaccine is currently in the country.

#SputnikV is already in use in:

Russia
Belarus
Argentina
Bolivia
Serbia
Algeria
Palestine
Venezuela
Paraguay
Turkmenistan
Hungary
UAE
Iran
Republic of Guinea
Tunisia
Armenia
Mexico
Nicaragua
Republika Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Other countries where the vaccines is in use are:

Lebanon
Myanmar
Pakistan
Mongolia
Bahrain
Montenegro
Saint Vincent
The Grenadines
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Gabon
San-Marino
Ghana
Syria
Kyrgyzstan
Guyana

#SputnikV is also in use in:

Egypt
Honduras
Guatemala
Moldova
Slovakia
Angola
Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Sri Lanka
Laos
Iraq
North Macedonia

Two weeks ago, European Medicines Agency (EMA) cautioned European Union (EU) members to delay granting national authorisation for the Russian-developed vaccine until the agency finishes its safety review.

They've sneaked in the Russian Covid19 vaccine #SputnikV for Kes11K a shot but @MOH_Kenya doesn't seem to be aware of what is going on bit.ly/3cZCj6s by @NationAfrica