A total of 552,960 doses of the bivalent vaccinewhich contains the component of the original virus strain and the omicron variantarrived in the country in November, but the Ministry of Health it did not report it and, what is worse, it still does not apply them. And as if that were not enough, the current management has indicated that this drug will only arrive in January.
According to a report from the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR), the first batch of 432,000 doses from Pfizer was received on November 18. And on the 21st of the same month the second delivery arrived, the former minister confirmed to La República Kelly Portalatinowho was in office until December 7.
When asked why the news was not released, she stated that they were looking for first to use the monovalent doses that were close to expiring and also because the technical teams, such as Immunization, did not present a work plan for the new drug. ”The strategy was that we had to dispose of (the doses) that were already stored,” he said.
Along these lines, the Vice Minister of Health Benefits and Insurance, Henry Rebazawho was appointed to the position on December 15, maintained yesterday that they had not been informed regarding the vaccines and that they decided to remove the entire leadership team of National Center for the Supply of Strategic Health Resources (Cenares) so as not to have “bumps” in the vaccination process.
However, Portalatino asserted that it is “impossible” that they have not been aware of the bivalent vaccines.
”The outgoing Vice Minister of Public Health has to transfer the information that corresponds to his peer. The vice-ministers are those in charge of the General Directorate of Strategic Interventions in Public Health (DGIESP), coordination, Immunizations (…). It is somewhat strange that the Immunization graduate, who goes with the Vice Minister of Public Health, has not transferred (the information) because she remains in the same position.”
The former minister refers to María Elena Martínez, Head of Immunizations since last February. ”She handles the whole vaccine thing with Cenares. He knows when he arrives and when he doesn’t. She had the information at hand’‘ added Portalatino.
In this sense, the former head of Immunizations Gabriela Jimenezwho was present during the arrival of the first batches of vaccines once morest Covid-19, explained that it is the Vice Minister of Public Health who reports on the process of purchasing the drug. ”(He knows) the technical specifications, the technical sheet of the vaccine, the conditions in which the vaccine enters. They are the ones who practically give technical endorsement for the entry of the vaccine into the country.
It is worth mentioning that the current Vice Minister of Public Health is Maria Elena Aguilarwho has been in office since December 19, but before her, in the management of Portalatino, were Luis Alberto Fuentes and Joel Candia.
Other doses for January
Meanwhile, Vice Minister Rebaza reported that they have confirmed the Arrival of 1.5 million doses of Pfizer bivalent vaccines for January. He added that in the following days the schedule and the vaccination points that will be designated for the drug will be disseminated. He also indicated that nurses are already being trained to handle these new doses.
protocol is ready
The protocol for the application of the bivalent vaccine details that the interval will be 2 months following the last dose received, except for cancer patients for whom it is 3 months.
Los those over 60 years of age must have the 3rd dose as a minimum requirement, while those under 59 years of age must have the 4th dose before receiving the bivalent.
Priority will be given to the population over 60 years of age, with comorbidities, pregnant women and health personnel who are on the front line.
“According to the Comptroller’s Office, on November 18 the first batch of 432,000 bivalent doses was received from Pfizer.”
