Suriname is eager for vaccines: ‘We can’t handle this anymore’

In Suriname, the bottom of the vaccine stock is almost in sight. Outgoing Health Minister De Jonge announced on Tuesday evening that he wants to send 40,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Suriname next week, but according to Surinamese Minister of Health Amar Ramadhin, that is not enough. “The more, the better,” Ramadhin says. He calls on the Dutch government to send more vaccines.

Suriname is desperate for vaccines, because the corona situation is harrowing. The country is under the highest alert phase. On average, there are about 200 infections per day out of a total of 600,000 inhabitants. Code black has been in force in intensive care for a few days and the country has asked the Netherlands for medical devices, healthcare personnel and vaccines. Suriname currently only has 18,000 doses in stock.

“They are gone within three days,” says Ramadhin. “So we need to replenish supplies very quickly.” Cardiologist Kwame van der Hilst, who coordinates the vaccination in the Diakonessenhuis in Paramaribo, also holds his breath. “If we continue at this pace, we will have to sell ‘no’ after the weekend,” says Van der Hilst. “Then we will have no more vaccines.”

According to Ramadhin, tens of thousands of vaccines are on the way to his country, but many more are needed:

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