through the Covax mechanism, Mexico is not scheduled to receive more vaccines against covid-19 of the laboratory Pfizer to be applied to minors from the age of 5, informed Jarbas Barbosa, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
From Washington, in a virtual press conference, he explained that, with the delivery, shortly, of 15 million doses of AstraZenecathe entire agreement of our country with Covaxafter it has already received 24 million 600 thousand vaccines.
Therefore, he added that PAHO will propose to the federal government buy pediatric biologics that it requires, through its revolving fund, while a new purchase negotiation is achieved with Pfizerthrough Covax.
“For self-financed countries like Mexico, the Covax secretariat is still under review and in negotiation with the producers. So we hope that the Covax Secretariat will respond to the request of the President of Mexico very briefly.
“But Mexico is also offered the other alternative that they will surely discuss with the authorities, which would be the direct purchase by the revolving fund of the Pan American Health Organization.
“Mexico’s intention is very important to also vaccinate children and adolescents. Because after the vaccination strategy for older adults is completed, all people at higher risk should start vaccinating adolescents and children, ”he explained.
Abdala and Sinovac are not endorsed by the WHO
Given the possibility that the Cuban Abdala vaccine will be used in Mexico to vaccinate minors over 5 years of age against covid-19, Jarbas Barbosa pointed out that although the World Health Organization (WHO) has not endorsed its application because it is just starting this process “which can last months”, the health authority of each country has the power to approve its emergency use in boys and girls, as is the case, of the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris).
“Mexico has an excellent regulatory authority, which is Cofepris, which can evaluate all vaccines and authorize their use in its own country,” he said.
Jarbas Barbosa added that the case of the corona vaccine produced by the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, is still in an evaluation process by the WHO.
“The WHO at this time only has Pfizer vaccines endorsed for children over 5 years of age. And the Moderna vaccine for adolescents from 12 years of age, but the other vaccines are under evaluation, ”she reiterated.
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