This new batch is the first that the country receives as part of the COVAX mechanism. These doses will allow the vaccination of second-line medical staff who are not directly related to patients with Covid-19.
The authorities of the Ministry of Health received this afternoon another supply of vaccines against COVID-19, which will be intended for second-line medical staff, who do not directly care for patients with COVID-19.
El Salvador received the first batch of Astrazeneca vaccines on February 17. Yes This new batch is the first that the country receives as part of the COVAX mechanism.
The supply of the drug, which contains 33,600 doses, arrived at the international airport where it was received by the Minister of Health, Francisco Alabí.
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The Minister of Health was accompanied by the Minister of National Defense, René Merino Monroy; Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, director of PNC; PAHO representative in the country Franklin Hernández and medical adviser of the Military Health Command, Karla Edith Trigueros.
The distribution of the second batch of vaccines will be supervised by the Minister of Health, the PAHO representative in the country, Franklin Hernández, and the medical adviser of the Military Command for Health, Karla Trigueros.
The vaccines were donated to the World Health Organization (WHO) COVAX system, as reported on Wednesday by President Nayib Bukele.
On February 17, the government began vaccinating front-line personnel after receiving India’s first batch of antidote; 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine were purchased by the government directly from the Serum Institute, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers.
Authorities are hiding behind a confidentiality clause with the pharmaceutical company so as not to give details about the total value of the purchase.
After the vaccination process began on February 17, Health Minister Franciso Alabí said that since March 3, they have applied “more than 20,000 vaccines to medical staff,” which contrasts with the number of doses the government has announced it has received.
The Ministry of Health aims to vaccinate 4.5 million Salvadorans. The waiting line to be vaccinated is followed by older adults and people with chronic diseases, who are also considered to be at high risk of contracting the virus.
One year of quarantine declaration is completed
On this day, a year ago, President Bukele decreed a mandatory home quarantine for the entire territory to stop the spread of the virus, although no contagion has yet been reported at that time.
Read also: “The government treats the vaccine issue as a state secret,” says infectologist Solano Leiva
The measure lasted just over two months and, according to various human rights organizations, alleged violations of detention centers, “health fences”, run by the army and police, and reported “deprivation of liberty” were reported at the time. citizens as “Punishment” for jumping over jail.
The Bukele executive also decided at that time to suspend courses throughout the country.