Andina

Peru: Government coordinates efforts to obtain vaccine against COVID-19

15:50 | Lima, Jun. 30.

The President of the Republic Martin Vizcarra on Tuesday stressed that the recently-created Vaccine Command has already started talks to obtain the future immunization against COVID-19 without additional waiting, taking into account the great demand that will exist for this cure worldwide.

Within this framework, the Head of State affirmed that this measure was taken as other decisions were made, with the aim of "being on the front line in the distribution of the vaccine."

"So, just as there is a COVID-19 Operations Command to attend to pandemic patients in the country, we also have the Vaccine Command that is already in more serious coordination and negotiations, in terms of time to get it," the president expressed.

"We will make a public-private effort to get this vaccine as soon as it is available in order to bring it into our country without waiting any additional time," he added.

Thus, a working group was also formed with representatives of the Ministries of Health, Economy-Finance, and Foreign Affairs to ensure vaccine financing and distribution.

"This Vaccine Command was created and it has Carlos Neuhaus as spokesperson, who represents the private sector that coordinates and joins efforts. Be sure that we are fighting the disease and thinking about the next step, which is the vaccine," he assured reporters.

The top official explained that the vaccine could be available anytime during the last months of this year. However, given the more than 10 million infected people and a world population of several billions of people, they make this demand "vast and tremendous."

"We are taking all these measures being perfectly aware that if we are not responsible, there may be a fresh outbreak of the disease," he concluded.



Today, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.

Tuesday marks the 107th day of mandatory social isolation in Peru.

(END) JCC/CVC/MVB

Published: 6/30/2020