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Peru: COVID-19 vaccination of older adults begins on March 8

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

11:42 | Lima, Mar. 5.

The vaccination against COVID-19 will begin on March 8 for elderly citizens, in parallel with frontline personnel of the armed forces and the national police, Health Minister Oscar Ugarte announced on Friday.

According to the high-ranking official, it was initially thought that older adults could start being immunized on March 6.

However, he indicated, the date had to be adjusted to Monday due to the need to overcome some logistical issues related to the transportation of the recently-arrived Pfizer vaccines.

"We are fully prepared, so that we can start on Monday. The citizens, who were already on the schedule, will be vaccinated; it means that the frontline contingent of the armed forces and police will simultaneously be vaccinated along with the elderly," he said in remarks to America Noticias.

The Cabinet member explained that there are 4 million people aged over 60, of whom 1.7 million are affiliated to the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud). In that case, the vaccination will also begin on Monday, March 8.

Different strategies

Moreover, the Health minister indicated that several strategies are being articulated for the immunization of the elderly, not only via EsSalud but also through the Development and Social Inclusion Ministry's Pension 65 Program, as well as the public and private rest homes, among others.

"It is a population group much larger than that of health personnel," he said.

Later, as the vaccines acquired by Peru continue to arrive, progress will be made with the elderly at private centers, he projected.

According to estimates, the amount of older adults in retirement homes amounts to 4,000 or 5,000.

Lastly, he announced that a second batch of 50,000 Pfizer vaccines will land in Lima on March 11, adding that more doses will arrive in the following weeks.

La vacunación contra la COVID-19 para los adultos mayores de 60 años empezará este lunes 8 de marzo inmunizando a diversos grupos en simultáneo para poder avanzar lo más rápido posible, informó el ministro Óscar Ugarte.
— Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) March 5, 2021

(END) RRC/MVB

Published: 3/5/2021

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Peru: COVID-19 vaccination of older adults begins on March 8

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