Health Ministry grants Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines authorization to enter Peru

Photo: AFP

14:51 | Lima, Jan. 28.

The General Directorate for Medicines, Input and Drugs (Digemid) attached to the Ministry of Health (Minsa) granted authorization to the vaccines against COVID-19 developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, the sector's head Pilar Mazzetti has reported.

Thus, the authorization granted last Tuesday allows those vaccines to enter the South American country soon.

Dr. Mazzetti indicated that on Wednesday representatives of the company hired to transport the vaccines were holding meetings with counterparts from the Chinese laboratory to finalize details for the shipment of the initial one million doses purchased by Peru.

Likewise, the Cabinet member said that immunization is projected to begin in the early days of February.

Furthermore, the government official ruled out that the targeted lockdown —which will be in force from January 31 to February 14— could harm the vaccination of health personnel, who will be the first to receive these doses.

As is known, Peru purchased one million vaccines from Sinopharm and sent the company a second contract for the acquisition of 500,000 doses that will arrive in February, plus another 1.5 million in March.

The minister pointed out that Peru is also holding negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Gamaleya to obtain a greater amount of vaccines.

(END) NDP/MVB

Published: 1/28/2021

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