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Peru's PM: COVID-19 vaccines were acquired within a transparent legal framework

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

16:31 | Lima, Mar. 10.

The purchase of coronavirus vaccines from the Chinese Sinopharm laboratory was carried out within a legal, transparent framework and through the publication of the corresponding legal regulations, Peruvian Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez affirmed on Wednesday.

During her virtual presentation before Congress, the Cabinet chief specified that "there was not any contracted vaccine for the benefit of the Peruvian population" before the Transition and Emergency Government —led by President Francisco Sagasti— took office on November 17, 2020.

"The acquisition of Sinopharm vaccines has occurred within a legal framework in a transparent manner, as well as with the publication and adoption of the corresponding legal regulations," Bermudez expressed.

"In fact, the vaccines arrived in the country in batches, one of 300,000 doses on February 7 and another one, days later on February 14, with the amount of 700,000 doses," she explained.

In this sense, the high-ranking official stated that the acquisition of Sinopharm doses took into account the 79.34% efficacy report, complying with all national regulations in the context of the current health emergency.

Likewise, the government's spokesperson indicated that the acquisition process was also timely as it occurred in the face of the pandemic-related emergency and because it is a scarce good.

The purchase was carried out properly because the current legal framework was respected, she said, adding that it was transparent because the population was always informed about the procedure.

Moreover, the Prime Minister affirmed that the information —irresponsibly spread by a media outlet on March 5— is linked to an incomplete preliminary study of the Sinopharm clinical trial, and "it seeks to discredit the vaccination process."

Bermudez also indicated that "all vaccines are still in (the phase of clinical) trials. There are still none that have completed clinical studies."

Lastly, she noted that the Sinopharm vaccine is being administered in 20 countries, among which are China, Hungary, Pakistan, Bahrain, Morocco, India, Mexico, Algeria, Colombia, Cambodia, Egypt, and Argentina.

Titular de la PCM: La adquisición de las vacunas del laboratorio Sinopharm se dio dentro de un marco jurídico, transparente y a través de la publicación de las normas legales que corresponden. Estas dosis llegaron el 7 de febrero e inmediatamente iniciamos la vacunación. pic.twitter.com/0RmlgEwcEn
— Consejo de Ministros (@pcmperu) March 10, 2021