              
              Spanish Version
            
                    search
                    close

Peru's PM: First COVID-19 vaccines to arrive on February 9

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

18:15 | Lima, Jan. 29.

The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines purchased from Sinopharm laboratory will leave China on February 8 and arrive in Peru a day later, Peruvian Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez announced on Friday.

The high-ranking official explained that the initial batch (one million doses) will be shipped via KLM. The corresponding aircraft flying from Beijing will make a stopover in Amsterdam before arriving in Lima.

According to the Cabinet chief, the Government promptly carried out the necessary procedures to receive the vaccines in January as announced by President Francisco Sagasti and in accordance with the contract signed with the Chinese company.

On the Peruvian side, she said, all procedures were completed on time, after which Sinopharm and DHL (to which the private sector paid for the aircraft) announced the departure date of the flight carrying the doses.

The Prime Minister indicated that —although steps were taken to advance the date— this has not been possible because Peru's General Directorate for Medicines, Input and Drugs (Digemid) and China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology must carry out a review of the cargo before sending it to the airport.

"What matters is that you know that we have already purchased the vaccines and the plane ready to leave," she emphasized.

Bermudez argued that —thanks to the extensive experience that the South American country has in terms of immunization— "we are prepared to start the vaccination as soon as the Sinopharm doses arrive."

"Once received, it (the vaccination) will begin in Lima and they (the vaccines) will be simultaneously sent to health facilities in regions for the immunization of frontline personnel," she indicated.

"We have a team of vaccinators trained and ready to act in accordance with the schedule drawn up by the Ministry of Health," she stressed.

Lastly, she affirmed that the current emergency requires the commitment of all in order to be overcome. Thus, a working group was created —under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers— whose technical secretariat is in charge of Carlos Neuhaus. It has also international support —particularly from USAID.

Remarks were made during a press conference held at the Government Palace in Lima.

?? En vivo | Presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, @VBermudezV, informa sobre las gestiones para la llegada del primer lote de vacunas. https://t.co/HovRgGDAs0
— Consejo de Ministros (@pcmperu) January 29, 2021

(END) VVS/MVB

Published: 1/29/2021

Video más visto

Peru's PM: First COVID-19 vaccines to arrive on February 9

Most read