Tegucigalpa, Honduras
An official delegation from Honduras traveled to Washington on Wednesday to meet with authorities from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to guarantee the largest number of free covid-19 vaccines for the Central American country.
The mission consists of the Ministers for Foreign Relations, Lisandro Rosales; from the coordination of the general administration, Carlos Madero, and from the presidency, Ebal Díaz, the head of the Ministry of Finance, Marco Midence, indicated in a press appearance.
He noted that the official delegation will meet with PAHO’s director, Carissa Etienne, and other officials of that body to advocate for Honduras to deliver “the maximum amount of” vaccines on offer against the SARS-CoV coronavirus.
“Let’s not forget, the Honduran people who not only affect and suffer us pandemicWe also had the plague of Eta and Iota (in November 2020) and which resulted in a negative economic impact, ”the official emphasized.
He stressed that the Honduran government has obtained a first batch of “between 450,000 and 834,000 doses” of vaccines through Covax Facility promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to vaccinate up to 20 percent of the population.
“What the (Honduran) mission in the United States is looking for is that the delivery is what has been offered for the country. maximum vaccine ceilings to protect the people with the vaccine, ”explains Midence.
Covax is the mechanism set up by the Global Alliance for Vaccination (GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO to provide governments with early access to a broad portfolio of vaccine candidates against COVID-19.
As of mid-March, when it reported the first two infections, Honduras has had about 150,000 cases as a result of the COVID-19 and 3,638 deaths from the disease, according to official figures.
AGREEMENTS WITH PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
Honduras, Midence added, has signed five confidentiality agreements with pharmaceutical companies to guarantee vaccines against the coronavirus for the remaining 80% of the population.
“We can say that the government has not stood by idly, but is waiting for the donation of the mechanism Covax / Gavi“, He explained.
He added that, since mid-2020, Honduras has “been in talks with several laboratories and international trading houses, making substantial progress” for the vaccine acquisition.
Confidentiality agreements and sent letters of intent are the first steps to ensure that the number of vaccines necessary for the eligible population, he indicated.
“We cannot give the content of said agreements because it is information that is protected by special mechanisms,” said Midence.
The Honduran authorities “do not spare any effort or resources. This is the number one priority,” stressed the official, who also assured that Honduras has sent letters of intent to pharmaceutical companies in Russia and China.
“ I would like to confirm that we have already sent letters of intent to pharmaceutical companies of Russian and Chinese nationality, that they have already advanced our invitation and vaccination tests, and that the conditions in the country make them ideal for countries like ours with logistics conditions. and others, “he said. EFE