Guatemala today received 349,830 doses of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY), against COVID-19 donated by Spain through the COVAX mechanism, the global initiative for equitable access to vaccines against the disease caused by the SARS-CoV virus. two.
The new batch of vaccines provided by the Spanish government corresponds to the second shipment of a donation of 1 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will help protect more Guatemalans against COVID-19. The vaccines arrived at COMBEXIM at La Aurora International Airport, where they were received by personnel from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance to be safeguarded at the National Center for Biologicals.
This shipment is part of five donations of vaccines that the Government of Spain has made to the country, adding to date a total of 1,350 doses from Oxford-AstraZeneca (AZD1222) and Pfizer-BioNTech. These donations constitute an important contribution to continue advancing with the vaccination process of the Guatemalan population, especially in places where the greatest efforts are made by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance to increase vaccination coverage.
Vaccine donations by the Spanish government began in July 2021, when Spain reached the threshold of 50% of the vaccinated population. Globally, Spain has reached 50 million vaccines, to which are added 122 million dollars to expand vaccination coverage against COVID-19 in 92 countries. Of these, a total of 15 million vaccines have been assigned and are being delivered in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
To date, more than 17 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 have been administered in Guatemala, representing coverage with one dose of 48% in the population (37% with two doses). Guatemala has registered an increase in cases since the beginning of June 2022, reaching in recent days positivity proportions (>20%) similar to those observed during previous wave peaks. These recently arrived vaccines offer an opportunity to close the gap that exists between the coverage of the first and second doses, as well as to initiate vaccination schedules in those who have not yet been vaccinated. Recent studies, the latest published in The Lancet on June 23, have highlighted the impact of vaccination against COVID-19 as a measure that has altered the course of the pandemic by saving more than 14.4 million lives globally. It is essential to prioritize vaccination activities to start and complete the schedules and protect against severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.
The PAHO Revolving Fund and the organization’s representation in Guatemala worked with the Spanish and Guatemalan governments, through the COVAX mechanism, to ensure the rapid and safe arrival of the vaccines. The collaboration continues so that they are deployed and reach the arms of the population as soon as possible. To this end, PAHO provides cooperation and technical assistance to the country for the design and implementation of the National Vaccination Plan against COVID-19, training health personnel for the application of COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring the cold chain to conserve biologicals , and other technical aspects to contribute to an effective vaccination campaign.
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