Andina

Peru may have COVID-19 vaccine by early 2021

Peru coordinates with five laboratories to acquire 30 million COVID-19 vaccines. Photo: EFE

Peru coordinates with five laboratories to acquire 30 million COVID-19 vaccines. Photo: EFE

10:15 | Lima, Aug. 24.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mario Lopez estimates that Peru could have a COVID-19 vaccine by the beginning of next year, as a result of the negotiations conducted at the bilateral and multilateral levels so as to achieve that goal.

"I believe that the group of laboratories with which we are coordinating, both through clinical trials and anticipated purchases, will be determined by the beginning of next year, because we will get those answers, so I am confident that we will have the highly-expected vaccine by the beginning of next year," he explained.


Likewise, at the multilateral level, Peru participates in the global initiative promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) —the COVAX Facility— to secure 6 million doses in order to vaccinate 20% of the country's population.

After saying that the WHO vaccine would cost between US$10 and US$12, Mr. Lopez noted that the procedures to prepare the Sinovac Laboratory (China) clinical trials, to be applied in 6 million Peruvians, will begin on Tuesday.

His remarks were made on Sunday night in an interview with Punto Final TV show.

(END) DOP/RMB/MVB

Published: 8/24/2020