The Ministry of Health (Minsa) distributed, this Wednesday, January 27, 2021, some 399 doses of vaccines against the new coronavirus, from the pharmaceutical duo Pfizer and BioNTech, in private hospitals in the country.
These doses were destined for the Paitilla Medical Center, San Fernando Hospital, Pacifica Salud, Panama Clinic, National Hospital and Santa Fe Hospital.
This, after the
Minsa decided yesterday, Tuesday, to continue with the immunization plan for health personnel on the first line against
Covid-19 , using the doses of the
Pfizer-
BioNTech vaccine reserved for the second immunization -in 21 days - of the first vaccinated people. Yesterday, the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco
Sucre , explained that the decision was based on the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the interval between the first and second doses of this
vaccine can be extended up to 42 days (6 weeks).
The Deputy Minister of Health, Ivette Berrío, carried out, this Wednesday, a tour of the different private hospitals where this vaccination process began precisely.
In addition to the private care centers, doses of
vaccines were distributed in the provinces of Veraguas, Darién, Chiriquí, Panamá and Panamá Oeste.
This process seeks to continue vaccinating health professionals who care for positive patients in wards, emergency areas, intensive care units and special respiratory care units, according to the
Minsa.
The first batch of
vaccines that Panama received, on January 20, was 12,840 doses.
Pfizer-
BioNTech is expected to resume shipments of the
vaccines on February 15.