Guatemala’s ambitious plan to combat COVID-19 with the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia has been marred by important setbacks. In February 2022, the frist batches of the vaccine expired, leading to a cascade of expirations that culminated on April 30 of the same year.The result? A staggering 4,824,524 doses went to waste.

Investigation Impedes Destruction

Three years later, the expired vaccines remain under the custody of the Ministry of Health, untouched. The reason: Guatemala’s Public Ministry (MP) has designated the biological remains as crucial evidence in an ongoing investigation into the vaccine’s purchase, which began in 2021. As the MP stated, The case is under investigation, so at the moment you cannot delve into details.

Inventory of Waste

According to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), the expired vaccines are stored in a warehouse within the administrative division of the ministry, located in Zone 8 of the capital. The breakdown includes:

• 2,197,604 doses of the first component, arriving in nine lots and expiring between February 28 and April 30, 2022.
• 2,626,920 doses of the second component,arriving in 16 lots and expiring between March 31 and April 30,2022.

Storage Costs and Logistics

Initially, the vaccines were stored at -20°C in four vans belonging to the National Biological Center (CNB) of the Ministry of Health. This cold storage cost the government Q160 per month,along with electricity expenses. Due to space constraints at the CNB, the doses were later moved to a dry warehouse within the same building, alongside other supplies, according to the Directorate of Regulations for Personal Attention Programs of the MSPAS.

The storage space, approximately 30 square meters, is under strict security to prevent theft.

A Questionable Purchase

The acquisition of the Sputnik V vaccines was controversial from the outset. On March 30, 2021, then-Minister of Health Dr. Amelia flores announced that guatemala would pay Q614.5 million to the Russian company human Vaccine as an advance for 16 million doses. The vaccines arrived gradually, with expiration dates uncomfortably close to the delivery dates, resulting in the expiration of six out of ten doses.

Official data indicates that each dose cost approximately Q76.80,excluding freight charges. The expired doses represent a loss of Q384 million, or 62% of the total amount paid to Russia.

During Alejandro Giammattei’s presidency,the contract with Human Vaccine was shrouded in confidentiality,leaving new authorities in the dark about the agreement’s terms. in April 2024,the Attorney General’s Office,the Ministry of Health,and the Presidential Commission against Corruption filed a criminal complaint alleging irregularities in the purchase of the 16 million doses.

The complaint alleges that signing a contract with an entity that was not the vaccine producer was illegal, and that the signatory for human Vaccine was not properly verified. Furthermore, the document was written in English and contained unfavorable conditions for Guatemala.

Regulations for Destruction

Ministerial Agreement 534-2011, issued by the MSPAS, mandates the destruction of expired vaccines. This agreement outlines the procedure for removing expired or obsolete medicines and related products, including vaccines. Product managers must document the reasons for non-use within the manufacturer’s specified lifespan. If intent, negligence, or omission is steadfast, those responsible must compensate for the value of the wasted product.

Regulations for hospital solid waste management classify expired vaccines as bio-infectious waste, requiring incineration or destruction with Ministry of Health authorization. Syringes must be destroyed using crushing or thermal methods.