Andina

President: Government to design vaccination strategy that is most beneficial for Peru

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

13:48 | Lima, Nov. 26.

Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti on Thursday reported that his administration will make every effort to craft a vaccination strategy against COVID-19 —one that is the most beneficial for all citizens.

"Soon, we will be starting a vaccination program that is extremely complex to be put in place (...). We have paid a lot of attention to it," he expressed.

As the Head of State explained, not enough is known about the COVID-19 pandemic so as to distinguish the best way to face it, "and the information is changing day by day."

According to the top official, a vaccine —in normal times— takes between five and ten years to develop, but an extraordinary effort is being made to have it ready soon. Yet, there are risks and uncertainties not only in the vaccine itself but also in how it is produced, distributed, and how many doses will be obtained.

"We are doing our best to, within all this uncertainty and limitations, conduct daily monitoring and make the best decisions based on what the population needs (...). We will do everything possible to design a vaccination strategy that is the most beneficial one," he stated.

When the time comes for the vaccine campaign to be held, he said, the participation of local governments, as well as the Ministry of Health and civil society will be essential.

At times of pandemic, mayors play a major role: not only to support authorities, but also to awaken an interest in complying with social distancing and the use of face masks, he added.

Remarks were made during the closing of the XIII Annual Conference of Urban and Rural Municipalities. The event brought together more than 70 mayors, as well as the Network of Urban and Rural Municipalities of Peru.

(END) VVS/MVB

Published: 11/26/2020