Andina

Peru FA Min: Getting COVID-19 vaccine a national goal

01:30 | Lima, Jul. 4.

Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Gustavo Meza-Cuadra on Friday affirmed that getting the vaccine against COVID-19 has become a national objective, adding that the private sector's initiative to join efforts in that search has been welcomed.

According to the government official, since the start of the pandemic, his sector has established a working group to meet with other sectors such as the Ministry of Health, the National Health Institute (INS), the National Council for Science and Technological Innovation (Concytec), and universities, so as to discuss COVID-19 treatment-related issues and a possible vaccine.

"We have contacted some laboratories whose vaccine is already in fairly advanced stages of development, as well as with institutions such as the World Health Organization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization to ensure its distribution in poor countries," he said in remarks to Radio Nacional.

The Cabinet member noted that the virus has shown that it is resilient and can re-emerge, "hence the race to get the vaccine, and like clinical trials are about to be carried out, discussions are being held about the possibility of conducting them in Latin America, and we have proposed Peru to that end."

Donations

The diplomat also noted that in terms of international aid received in the first 100 days of the national emergency, he said, Peru has gotten US$80 million in donations, including protective equipment, ventilators, and diagnostic tests.

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Published: 7/4/2020