The Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, considered that in the coming days there would be an increase in cases due to the omicron variant as it is more contagious.
The Government outlines a plan for the year 2022, in case they appear new variants of COVID-19 and in the folder would be a fourth dose of vaccine.
“Precisely thinking about these variants, thinking about these characteristics that this virus has, we We are already working what can we do to a fourth dose of vaccine, what can we do to prepare, hopefully it doesn’t happen, with a new wave for a new variant, from the second or third quarter of the year, ”said Francisco Pérez, undersecretary of Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), in a radio interview.
He added that at the request of the Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, and President Guillermo Lasso, are working on a new plan that includes a projection of what would happen precisely because of the omicron variant, in the first quarter of 2022 and how Ecuador should prepare for the second or third trimester if there is a new variant.
A fourth dose of vaccine has been announced to be applied in countries such as Israel or Chile.
The third dose or booster dose in Ecuador it began to be administered to health personnel since last October and is gradually being extended to the general population.
According to the vaccinometer, a tool that allows to follow the vaccination plan, until December 29 they have been placed more than 1,100,000 booster doses.
From January 3, the booster dose against COVID-19 will be applied to people between 50 and 59 years old
So far, he said, despite the fact that there has been a doubling in the number of infections there is no duplication in the number of hospitalized or intensive care.
In the last week of 2021 there has been a large influx of patients who approach health centers and hospitals with respiratory symptoms, but 90% are mild symptoms, he indicated.
The official noted that around 3,000 cases have been registered in the first three days of this week, which is almost double the previous one.
On December 27, the MSP reported 24 cases of omicron and there was 27 cases to be confirmed.
Minister Garzón, after participating in the delivery-reception of medicines, mentioned -this Thursday- that since the omicron is extremely contagious, probably in the next few days there will be increase in cases 7 to 14 or 17 times more.
For the Health Minister, as there are “many cases”, there will be hospital or intensive care congestion problemss if as citizens we do not get vaccinated or biosecurity measures are not maintained.
Garzón announced that there will be private company support for the placement of third doses to the entire population.
The Government considers January 2022 as the new date to inoculate 85% of the vaccinable population against COVID-19
In an interview with this newspaper, Garzón left open the possibility of include children from 3 years to 4 years in vaccination that will be held from approximately February 2022.
In Ecuador, immunization against COVID-19 is done from 5 years.
Garzón indicated that Sinovac will continue to be used as a vaccine in children. “We are reporting practically zero complications with the Sinovac doses,” he argued.
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