Andina

Fourth Vaccinathon kicks off in Peru

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

09:16 | Lima, Aug. 6.

The vaccination against COVID-19 of people aged 38 and above began in Lima Metropolitan Area and Callao region on Friday morning, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has confirmed.

All vaccines administered by Minsa are supported by scientific evidence and are reliable, Health Minister Hernando Cevallos affirmed on Thursday, as he provided details about the fourth Vaccinathon.

The government official noted that the sector plans to decentralize the three-day long vaccination drive.
Therefore, it will also be held in the following regions: Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Piura, Junin, Pasco, Cajamarca, and Tumbes.

The goal is to inoculate 300,000 people in Lima Metropolitan Area and Callao, as well as 50,000 people —on average— in each region, according to their population density.

In the Peruvian capital, the campaign kicked off on August 6 at 7 a.m. (local time) and will run until August 8 at 7 p.m.

Thus, the eligible population will have 60 hours of uninterrupted vaccination, so as to make as much progress as possible in view of the short time available before an eventual third wave of COVID-19 hits the country.

"We want to provide citizens with the possibility of getting vaccinated because that is the most effective way to protect ourselves against COVID-19. The campaigns in regions are part of the decentralization effort that needs to be strengthened. An equitable approach will be used to reach every corner of the country, even indigenous peoples," Cevallos said.

Details on who is eligible for the vaccination drive in Lima and Callao were revealed during the conference, which featured the head of Minsa's Immunization Directorate Gabriela Jimenez, Deputy Public Health Minister Gustavo Rosell, and infectious disease specialist Antonio Castillo.

The fourth Vaccinathon will be aimed at people aged 38 and above, teenagers aged 12 and older with Down syndrome, as well as those aged 40 and above who have not yet received their first or second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.


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Published: 8/6/2021