[ad_1]
Colombia received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines on Monday and will soon begin to vaccinate its population of 50 million people, the third largest in Latin America.
The government says it aims to vaccinate 35 million people this year including hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants and refugees who are currently living in the country.
A yellow DHL plane carrying Colombia’s first 50,000 vaccines arrived at Bogota’s international airport and was welcomed personally by President Ivan Duque and his health minister. The shots were supplied by Pfizer, which has a contract to sell 10 million vaccines to Colombia.
“Today I want to thank God, I want to thank science” Duque said from a podium set up on the runway. “We will now walk forward with the “v” of vaccines. With the “v” of victory.”
Colombia will be one of the last countries in Latin America to start vaccinations.Neighboring countries like Ecuador and Panama began vaccinating their populations in January and Chile has already administered 1.9 million shots to its population of about 20 million.
President Duque had come under criticism for not obtaining vaccines sooner, but said that he preferred to start rolling out the shots when Colombia could secure a steady supply.
Government officials say that more than 1.6 million vaccines from various laboratories will soon arrive.
-
A teacher welcomes preschool students back to school on their first day back to in-person class amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Bogota is returning students to blended classes at public schools after a year of online education due to the pandemic. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
-
A teacher gives anti-bacterial gel to a preschool student on the first day back to in-person class amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Bogota is returning students to blended classes at public schools after a year of online education due to the pandemic. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
-
A preschool student wearing a mask is guided by a teacher as he washes his hands to prevent the spread of new coronavirus upon arrival for the first day back to in-person class in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Bogota is returning students to blended classes at public schools after a year of online education due to the pandemic. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
-
Preschool students wear masks and social distance to prevent the spread of new coronavirus as they begin their first day back to in-person class in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Bogota is returning students to blended classes at public schools after a year of online education due to the pandemic. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Citation:
Colombia gets first shipment of coronavirus vaccines (2021, February 15)
retrieved 15 February 2021
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-colombia-shipment-coronavirus-vaccines.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
[ad_2]
Source link
- COVID case rates hit new high for England, study finds - April 7, 2022
- Govt’s focus on affordable healthcare ensured significant savings for poor, middle class: PM Modi - April 7, 2022
- SRL Diagnostics and Skye Air Mobility collaborate to transport pathology samples using drone logistics - April 6, 2022
- Healthineers sets up new production line of CT scanners in Bengaluru under PLI scheme - April 6, 2022
- Lupin inks licensing pact with Alvion to market drugs in Southeast Asia - April 6, 2022
- Yoga Mahotsav: Ayush Ministry to organise event to demonstrate common yoga on World Health Day - April 6, 2022
- LordsMed forays into the medtech space with launch of health ATMs ‘Lords Sehat’ - April 5, 2022
- ‘Friendly viruses’ can be the next big thing in the history of medical research and more - April 5, 2022
- No setback to Bharat Biotech even as WHO suspends Covaxin UN supply: Sources - April 4, 2022
- Govt panel recommends Serum’s Covovax dose for kids aged 12 and above - April 4, 2022
