A member of the Vaccine Command, Antonio Pratto, on Friday announced that the agreement completed with Pfizer laboratories to supply
9.9 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to Peru, as well as
the 13 million doses to be procured through the Covax Facility mechanism, will allow Peru to set up an immunization program firstly aimed at the personnel on the front line of the pandemic and the most vulnerable citizens.
Pratto confirmed that the Pfizer vaccines, or at least the first batch of them, will arrive in Peru between December and January.
On the other hand, he noted that the vaccines managed by the Covax Facility —which were expected to arrive in the second half of 2020, because it coordinates with nine different laboratories— would do so in the first quarter of next year, as stated by
Deputy Public Health Minister Luis Suarez.
According to Pratto, this is good news and is in line with the immunization objectives set by the Government.
He went on to say that while the country is securing doses to immunize 12 million people, the 22 million vaccines will arrive progressively, hence the need to continue negotiating with other laboratories.
The aim is to ensure coverage of the entire population, especially those who have been most exposed to the virus, such as health personnel, municipal patrol guards, as well as members of the Armed Forces and National Police, placing particular emphasis on the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
"Everyone is seeking a group of vaccines," he affirmed.
According to the Vaccine Command member, this first group to be immunized totals about six million individuals, who will require 12 million doses that have been secured, but the plan is to bring them to Peru as soon as possible, that is,
in the first quarter of 2021, according to the Government's goal.
(END) DOP/LIT/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/25/2020