Andina

Peru's PM: Vulnerable population a priority in COVID-19 vaccination

12:10 | Lima, Aug. 3.

Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano on Monday affirmed that the vulnerable population and professionals on the front line against COVID-19 will be given priority in the distribution of the vaccine.

In his speech before Congress, Cateriano explained that the professionals considered a priority include health staff, as well as members of the Armed Forces and National Police.

Only then will it be possible to immunize the remainder of the population.

According to the Cabinet chief, a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism has been established to that end, which combines the efforts of academic, public and private sectors, under the auspices of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Health.

The top priority, he stressed, is to make a transparent and timely purchase for the country.

At the multilateral level, Cateriano explained, Peru is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

"Peru seeks to join the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), which has a multi-stakeholder mechanism —called Covax Facility— to expand the manufacturing capacity of future vaccines and their financing for a group of developing countries," he added.

Remarks were made at Congress during a plenary session in which he presented the Government's general policy and requested the confidence vote of legislators.

(END) VVS/CVC/RMB/MVB

Published: 8/3/2020