Andina

Peru: COVID-19 vaccine to be free of charge for all

11:56 | Lima, Jul. 7.

COVID-19 vaccines will be free of charge for the population, even if their acquisition on a large scale implies a significant effort by the Peruvian State, said Luis Suarez, a member of the Vaccine Command established by the Ministry of Health (Minsa).

The specialist explained that the General Law on Vaccines recognizes the budget for immunizations as a priority.

Besides, he explained that Minsa and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) are in charge of guaranteeing the resources for their purchase.

According to Suarez, Peru will need an additional fund, although the commitment of many laboratories, which are racing against time, is to make this discovery available to all countries at minimum cost. 

"I do not think cost will be a problem," he said.

Vulnerable and strategic groups

For now, it is impossible to predict when a COVID-19 vaccine will become available despite the race, which involves at least 100 laboratories around the globe. 

What is clear is that once scientists discover it, countries will receive it in batches and will have to develop scenarios for immunization strategies.

In Peru, the population clusters with the highest risk of developing COVID-19 complications are likely to be among the first to receive the vaccine, as well as strategic groups such as health workers, the Armed Forces and the National Police, plus indigenous peoples in the Amazon region.

(END) CCH/RMB/MVB

Published: 7/7/2020