El Salvador began the vaccination process against COVID-19 on Monday at a time when the Public Health authorities have warned that in the last weeks the risk of contagion in this segment of the population has increased because they did not have the vaccine.
“All those (over 18 years of age) who live in the territory can already be vaccinated at 166 points, and thus not only protect their health, but also those close to them and quickly get out of this situation, which is the pandemic,” said the minister. of Health, Francisco Alabí, at a press conference at the Vaccination Megacenter in the new Hospital El Salvador.
In the first half of April, to accelerate the vaccination plan against COVID-19, the authorities enabled this space in the new one in the capital, where more than half a million doses have already been applied and after enabling vaccination for the elderly 25-year-olds, from an average of 50,000 doses per day nationwide, it rose to more than 76,000.
“We are making progress in quality and speed in the vaccination strategy,” said Alabí.
“I was waiting for them to open the space for us and when the president said on Twitter that we could make the appointment, I signed up and here I am,” said Ernesto Melgar, a 19-year-old young man who after receiving the first dose of the vaccine , spoke to The Associated Press.
The authorities have established 166 vaccination centers throughout the country and to avoid crowds, an Internet page has been set up where you can schedule the appointment in the place you prefer. They can also do it by sending a text message to a telephone number that has been enabled and waiting for the confirmation and the steps to follow that are detailed.
“I did it online, it’s easy, they gave me a choice and I signed up quickly. I am concerned because I have heard that in recent weeks it is young people who are getting sick and putting our parents and family at risk, ”said Juan Escobar, 22 years old.
In El Salvador, the smallest nation in Latin America and with a population of 6.7 million, Public Health authorities plan to immunize 4.5 million people.
The country has received 6,880,690 doses in 19 shipments and since February 17, when the application began, the first dose has been supplied to 1.9 million people, while 1.2 have received the second dose.
In El Salvador, vaccines are being applied from the pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Pfizer and Moderna.
So far the Central American country has registered 81,644 infections and 2,453 deaths. 74,388 people have overcome the disease.
–
