Peru's PM: Agreement with vaccine laboratories expected between August and September

12:32 | Lima, Aug. 11.

Between August and September of this year, the Government expects to complete agreements with at least three pharmaceutical laboratories aimed at the search for the coronavirus vaccine and which include conducting clinical trials in Peru, Prime Minister Walter Martos affirmed on Tuesday.

"This way, we will ensure preferential prices and favorable conditions to access the vaccines," he expressed.

The Cabinet chief said that timely access to the vaccine against COVID-19 is a national goal. Therefore, various efforts are undertaken in coordination with other public sector institutions, the academic community and the private sector.

Likewise, the high-ranking official reported that President Martin Vizcarra's administration is making arrangements with various governments as well as the most important pharmaceutical laboratories from Germany, Brazil, China, the United States, France, Great Britain, India, Italy and Japan to gain access to the vaccine.

Before August 31 Peru must declare the financial commitment to CovaxFacility, in order to ensure the purchase of vaccines and thereby guarantee the immunization of 6.6 million Peruvians (20% of the population).

Similarly, before the end of this year, Peru is scheduled to sign at least five agreements with the most prestigious laboratories for the completion of advance purchases and eventual technology transfer commitments, which guarantee the immunization of the remaining 50% of the population not covered by CovaxFacility.

At the national level, he commented that the Government has been supporting the project led by Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH) and Farvet Laboratory to access international opportunities that allow them to continue with the development of a vaccine which is currently in the testing phase in animals (alpacas).

At the multilateral level, the aim is for the vaccine to be declared a global public good. Thus, steps have been taken to become part of the CovaxFacility initiative, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

He explained that this initiative mobilizes financing for research projects on possible vaccines and subsequent access to them by the countries that participate in this mechanism, especially those with low resources and middle income, such as Peru.

Remarks were made as Prime Minister Martos presented the Government's general policy and requested the confidence vote of legislators.

In accordance with Article 130 of the Constitution, the President of the Council of Ministers must attend Congress —joined by his Cabinet— to present the Government's general policy and the principal measures pursued by the Executive Branch.

As is known, Walter Martos was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Peru on August 6 to replace Pedro Cateriano.

Primer ministro: La prioridad de mi gestión es, sin lugar a dudas, la lucha contra la pandemia. Ganar esta guerra requiere del trabajo conjunto y organizado en todos los niveles de gobierno, las municipalidades, los gobiernos regionales, el empresariado y la sociedad civil. pic.twitter.com/ujTaxqWPHH
— Consejo de Ministros (@pcmperu) August 11, 2020

(END) LIT/RRC/MVB

Published: 8/11/2020

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Peru's PM: Agreement with vaccine laboratories expected between August and September

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