BOGOTÁ, May 6 (Reuters) – Colombia approved applying a second booster of vaccines against COVID-19 to all people over 50 years of age as part of its strategy to combat the pandemic, after it reached the goal of 70% of its population immunized with a double dose, President Iván Duque announced on Friday.
The South American country of 50 million inhabitants eliminated the use of masks in some closed spaces in all cities and municipalities that exceeded 70% of their vaccinated population, although it is still mandatory in public transport systems and in medical centers.
“It will be important to continue protecting ourselves, saving lives and giving confidence to the population,” Duque said in a government act in which he specified that the second booster may be applied from the fourth month after receiving the first or third dose.
The second reinforcement had already been applied to people with immunodeficiencies or transplants.
“Today we have met the goal that we set for ourselves in the National Vaccination Plan of reaching 70% of the Colombian population with a double dose of vaccine. It is an achievement in the midst of this pandemic, it is an achievement of teamwork as a nation and as a country,” said Duke.
“We are proud that more than 83% of Colombians have at least one dose,” he added.
Colombia, which like many other countries has imposed restrictions on mobility and quarantines to face the pandemic, applies vaccines from Sinovac, Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca to its population. For the second booster, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be applied, Duque said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than six million people in Colombia and caused the death of 139,809, according to official statistics from the Ministry of Health. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta, edited by Nelson Bocanegra)
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