FA Min: Pfizer signs deal with Peru to supply 20 million of COVID-19 vaccine doses

15:57 | Lima, Feb. 8.

Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister Elizabeth Astete on Monday announced that Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti has inked an agreement with Pfizer for the supply of 20 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine.

During her virtual participation in Congress' Foreign Affairs Commission, the high-ranking official affirmed that the deal —whose negotiation ended on February 3— states that 250,000 doses will arrive in March and at least 300,000 will arrive in April.

"We were assured that Peru will have received a minimum of 5,750,000 vaccines by July 1, and the supply will increase significantly to 20 million since then," she pointed out.

The Cabinet member highlighted that, in the case of Pfizer, the negotiations have enabled Peru to secure from 9.9 million doses to 20 million.

Deals with laboratories

Moreover, the minister reported that the country has inked an agreement with COVAX Facility for the supply of 6.6 million doses from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, so as to immunize 20% of the population.

She went on to say that this Government has managed to bring the first delivery of 530,000 doses forward to the first quarter of this year.

In the case of AstraZeneca, she said, Peru signed an agreement on January 6 to deliver 14,040,000 doses of the vaccine starting September this year, although steps are being taken to advance the shipments.

On the other hand, negotiations with Johnson & Johnson —for an agreement to supply five million doses— are moving forward, she explained.

Regarding the Sputnik V vaccine —developed by Russia's Gamaleya Institute— negotiations continue to make progress.

Besides, negotiations with Moderna —to supply 12 million doses— are underway and, if successful, they may arrive during the second half of the year.

According to the minister, the country is awaiting a proposal for a contract with Sinopharm to procure an additional batch of 2 million doses to be delivered between February and March, based on a verbal agreement with the laboratory's president.

(END) FHG/CVC/RMB

Publicado: 8/2/2021