Health Minister Oscar Ugarte on Wednesday announced that his sector has transferred resources to the region of Arequipa to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccination brigades in order to support the immunization process, given the situation that the region is going through.
Each brigade is composed of at least two members. It must be pointed out that there are around 20 vaccination centers in Arequipa, not one, as it has been rumored.
"That is not true. There are dozens of vaccination centers, and additional sites can be implemented according to the needs. In addition, as part of Minsa's support, they have been given resources to increase the number of brigades, and further support will be provided if needed," he said in statements to local channel TV Peru.
Sputnik vaccine
On the other hand, the minister indicated that the talks with Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute are on the right track and, as soon as the corresponding agreement is signed, 20 million doses are expected to be delivered.
He said Peru is taking all the corresponding steps to sign the agreement, which will be announced in the coming days, adding that the final signing process is going through some administrative issues in Russia, but the commitment to send 20 million vaccines will be fulfilled anyway.
Regarding the vaccination process and the next Government, he said it would be ideal to continue working with the team involved in the vaccine effort in order to avoid some setbacks.
As for the provision of doses by the different laboratories, he said Pfizer was contracted to supply 32 million, 13.2 million doses will be procured via the COVAX Facility mechanism, 14 million from AstraZeneca, and 2 million from Sinopharm, which means over 60 million doses have been secured so far.
(END) JCB/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/23/2021