The official indicated that —based on projections— more than 309,000 citizens of the various native communities are expected to be already immunized in August.
Mendigure explained that vaccination of this population first goes through a process of dialogue —which takes time— with the Apus (chiefs) and various representatives of communities to explain the importance of vaccines.
"We are moving forward, and the communities to whom we explain the purpose of vaccines, their benefits, and that the objective is to protect health, are responding positively. Besides, their traditions are being respected, taking into account that vaccination is voluntary,"
Mendigure told Radio Nacional.
"The goal is to reach the month of August with all of them vaccinated," he added.
The Minsa official specified that brigades —made up of doctors, nurses, technical, and registered assistants— as well as the chiefs, community agents, and Apus of the various Amazonian communities, travel by land, air, rivers and the Action Platforms for Social Inclusion (PAIS) for immunizations, which so far reach 13,000.
"We are mobilizing with all State resources, and we are seeing a positive reaction from our native brothers and sisters, who are vaccinated in their own communities," he noted.
The Minsa official also highlighted the coordination taking place among the sectors: Health, Culture, Education, Development-Social Inclusion, and various organizations to move the vaccination process forward.
Furthermore, he argued that —unlike urban areas where vaccines are administered based on age groups— in
indigenous and native communities everyone aged above 18 gets vaccinated without any distinction whatsoever.
Moreover, Mendigure said that reaching out to these areas is not easy, and —although in some cases it takes two, three, or four hours to arrive in a community— it takes up to three days on other occasions.
In this sense, he indicated that the vaccine administered to this population is Sinopharm due to a temperature issue. However, vaccinators rely on deep freezers to maintain cold chains.
The official added that the process has already begun in San Martin, Madre de Dios, and Huanuco regions. The same will be done in Amazonas, Pasco, Ayacucho, Cusco, Loreto, and Ucayali.
Finally, Mendigure highlighted the establishment of the Afro-Peruvian Command in Piura, which will strengthen the vaccination process launched for said community.
He also announced that more commands of this type will be formed in the coming days.
(END) JCB/MAO/MVB