Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Honduran Parliament approved a law on Saturday to speed up the direct purchase of coronavirus vaccines SARS-CoV-2 through Secretary of Health and Honduran Institute of Social Security (IHSS).
endorsement Law on free vaccines It occurred with the dispensation from two debates in a virtual session of the National Congress and in the middle of the growing curve of infections, which exceed 164,000, while the deaths are close to 4,000, according to the latest state report National risk management system (Sinager).
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The law approved by the deputies authorizes the Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines against covid-19 through the rotary vaccine fund of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), from mechanisms already established and “directly, without intermediaries and without being subject to the provisions of the State Contracts Act “, indicated the legislative branch.
The health entity is also authorized to buy directly “all the logistics, dispensary and supply chain needed to apply the vaccine,” he added.
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“In these processes, priority should be given to the immediate availability of the vaccine as soon as possible and its availability in sufficient quantity for the entire population and to be incorporated into the National Vaccination Scheme through the Extended Immunization Program (IAP),” he said. explained.
The law also authorizes the IHSS to manage the purchase of coronavirus vaccines to ensure the inoculation of all its affiliates.
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All public institutions purchasing covide vaccines must guarantee that “the first doses will be for the care of health workers, whether private or public, in accordance with the provisions of the vaccination guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health,” Parliament stressed. The Ministry of Health and the IHSS have also been authorized to sign a cooperation agreement that allows for the “prompt extension and coverage” of vaccination of relatives of insured persons and other vulnerable groups.
The purchase of vaccines will be done in a “transparent way”, and the process will be monitored and supervised by the Superior Court of Accounts (TSC).
All pharmaceutical companies or legal entities that provide vaccines to the IHSS and the Ministry of Health must have an emergency use authorization issued by the Health Regulatory Agency (ARSA) to guarantee health regulation based on scientific evidence.
Various sectors have demanded that the arrival of the first vaccines in the country be accelerated, where the National Autonomous University of Honduras (Unah) has recommended the purchase of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.
The Russian vaccine, which has been approved for emergencies in 25 countries around the world, in addition to minimal side effects, requires a cold chain between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, which is in line with the cold chain managed by the health system of the world. Central American nation.