Mexico donated one million AstraZeneca vaccines to Ecuador

A shipment of one million AstraZeneca vaccines from Mexico arrived at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito on Thursday night. The government of that country donated the lot to Ecuador to use them in the vaccination plan against COVID-19.

The vaccines will be used, especially, in the application of booster doses, reported the Ministry of Public Health (MSP).

In the formal ceremony were present the vice president Alfredo Borrero, the ambassador of Mexico in Ecuador, Raquel Serur Smeke, and more officials from the two countries.

“The government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has just made the largest donation to Ecuador. This will serve to help and complement the vaccination program led by the President of the Republic, ”said Borrero.

Given the confirmation of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Ecuador, no new restrictive measures are foreseen

For his part, Serur stated that it is a “act of solidarity that strengthens and gives content to bilateral relations.” He thanked the Mexican Armed Forces who transferred the vaccines in one of their planes.

The Deputy Minister of Health, José Ruales, stressed that the biological comes at an opportune moment, since, in some cases, it will allow the completion of the vaccination schedule and, in others, receive the booster dose. “This delivery mitigates inequalities and favors access to vaccines,” he added.

So far, Ecuador has received 3.7 million biologicals donated by Chile, the United States, China, Canada, among others, indicated the Ministry of Health.

It takes more than vaccination to stop the omicron variant of the coronavirus

According to data from the MSP, as of December 14, second doses have been applied to 12 million people, representing 75% of the target population. Regarding first doses, they add up to more than 13 million people, that is, 84% of the target population. In addition, 731,529 booster doses have been given to priority groups.

The Vice Presidency pointed out, in a bulletin, that this December 18 and 19 the second massive vaccination campaign will take place on a national scale. Citizens will be able to receive first, second and booster doses, as appropriate. (I)