Andina

Peru's Health Min: We are capable of receiving 12 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines

Photo: ANDINA

Photo: ANDINA

09:02 | Lima, Jan. 8.

Peru's Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti visited the warehouse of the National Center for Supply of Strategic Resources in Health (Cenares), located in Callao, and confirmed the capacity of this place to store 12 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

In statements to the media, the minister explained that the warehouse is capable of storing products requiring temperatures of 2-8 degrees Celsius and -20 degrees Celsius.

In addition, it has two 700 cubic meter freezer rooms, and three 40 cubic meter rooms with dual system, that is, they can be set up for refrigeration or freezing.

"In this area, we can receive up to 12 million doses all at once, independent of what has been stored. The doses, of course, arrive in separate shipments and will be distributed to different regions," she explained.

According to the Cabinet member, the efficacy rate for the vaccines acquired by Peru meet the international standard of over 70%. Sinopharm's has an efficacy rate of nearly 80%.

Mazzetti affirmed that the first one million shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, to be sent by the Chinese laboratory Sinopharm, will be given first to healthcare workers.

Therefore, half a million people from all subsystems of health care will be vaccinated. The next group to be immunized will be the Armed Forces and the National Police.

In the case of the elderly people, who face a higher risk of contracting a severe form of the COVID-19 illness, the minister indicated that the lists have been prepared using data from the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS) and the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud).

(END) NDP/RMB/MVB

Published: 1/8/2021