80% of the target population (28,024,254 people) in Peru will be vaccinated with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021, according to
Health Minister Hernando Cevallos.
His remarks were delivered during his presentation before Congress' COVID-19 Emergency Monitoring and Disaster Risk Management Commission.
Lima Metropolitan Area, Ica, Ancash, Callao, Arequipa, Tumbes, Moquegua, Junin, La Libertad, Piura, and Pasco are the regions with more than 67% of their target population vaccinated with two doses.
In this regard, the minister noted that Peru is the fourth country in Latin America —after Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina— with the most people vaccinated.
Therefore, he asked legislators to recognize the vaccination efforts carried out by health personnel across the country.
"Allow me to ask the Commission to give recognition to healthcare workers because vaccinating in Peru is not the same as vaccinating in Uruguay, Chile, or Argentina," Cevallos pointed out.
"The geographical differences make the advancement of vaccination much more complicated, and this success is only attributed to healthcare workers and the people, who have cooperated," he added.
Regarding the situation of the pandemic, the health sector's head reported that an increase in infections is expected as a result of end-of-year celebrations; however, he said the country is better prepared to face a possible third wave of infections.
Regarding the SARS-CoV-2 variants, Cevallos clarified that Omicron is not yet present in Peru, since most infections are due to the Delta variant.
"Between 94% and 92% of cases are attributed to the Delta variant, followed by Gamma and Lambda, in much lesser proportion," he explained.
(END) NDP/RMB
Publicado: 6/12/2021