Covid-19 Cases Increase and New Variant Spreads in Peru, Vaccination Efforts Falling Short

Covid-19 cases increase and new variant is already in the country (RPP)

The implementation of the bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 is showing lower than expected numbers in several regions of Peru in the face of a growing number of cases. Information from the Single National Repository of Health Information (Reunis) reveals a low vaccination percentage in departments such as Lima, Ica, La Libertad and Piura. Currently, the progress of vaccination with the bivalent dose at the national level reaches only 22%.

An increase in the numbers of infections of the disease has been reported in some regions of the country. This situation is developing in a context in which the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has not obtained the same response to its vaccination campaigns as those carried out in previous stages of the pandemic.

The low scope of the vaccination process has generated alarm among citizens. – Credit: Andina

Coverage in regions such as Lima, Ica, La Libertad and Piura has room for improvement, with Ica leading with 29.25%, followed by La Libertad with 25.54%, while Piura registers only 13.57% .

Reunis has communicated these data and has highlighted the challenge of increasing the rate of immunization in a context in which variants of the coronavirus remain active. This type of vaccine, designed to act against multiple strains, is a key element in the strategy to control outbreaks and prevent serious cases of the disease. However, the low absorption of the bivalent vaccine highlights the need to strengthen vaccination campaigns and address the situation with effective health measures tailored to each region.

The announcement responds to the need to maintain high levels of immunization in the community. Photo: Andina/Composition Infobae

In the Peruvian regions of Lima, Ica, La Libertad and Piura, an increase in COVID-19 infections has been reported. According to the Ministry of Health (Minsa), between 616 and 799 new cases have been registered in the period between epidemiological week 45 and 48. This increase in infections marks a new concern for health authorities.

“We ask the population not to let their guard down and to continue getting vaccinated, that is why we remain active with the vaccination points throughout Peruvian territory. We have between an average of 30 to 40 infections per week, more than we had in the weeks before the increase,” María Martínez Barrera, director of Immunizations at the Minsa, told RPP.

The Minister of Health assures that they have exceeded the proposed vaccination goal – Andina credit

Faced with this panorama, in an interview with RPP, the head of the Vice Minister of Health, Ricardo Peña Sánchez, spoke out due to the measures that citizens had to comply with to avoid complications due to possible infections. “What we are advising from the Ministry of Health for the vulnerable population is that they comply with receiving the bivalent vaccine (regardless of the one they have received before),” he said.

In turn, the authority called on the population to continue with the measures learned during the pandemic, among them he highlighted washing hands and using a mask when in a place where the capacity for spread is present. This is with the aim of not leaving aside the actions that worked during such a complicated period.

Other variants found in Peru are “Kraken”, “Fornax” and “Eris” – credit Andina

To facilitate access to vaccination in Metropolitan Lima and Callao, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has implemented this link so that citizens can consult the schedules and locations of the centers arranged for this purpose. Additionally, the Minsa has enabled telephone line 113, option 3, for those who require direct assistance or do not have internet access.

The busiest vaccination points in Lima are Campo de Marte, Videna, Complejo Deportivo Bayóvar, Parque Zonal Huiracocha, La Rambla Shopping Center (Breña) and the markets of San José, Barrio Chino, 1 de Septiembre, Risso, Bolívar, Surquillo, October 10, Magdalena and Central Market.

2023-12-27 16:29:00
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