The Minister of Health, Francisco Coma, reported this Wednesday, October 6, on various vaccination issues in Guatemala, among which he highlighted that the communication strategy in the rural area of the country is being rethought, with the aim of avoiding incidents similar to those that occurred in the Maguilá 1 village, Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, Alta Verapaz, where health workers were attacked and saved from being lynched by residents who oppose receiving the coronavirus vaccine, who also destroyed the thermos in which it was transported the biological.
Coma first said that they sympathized with the health colleagues who experienced such a complicated situation in that place.
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He said that they regretted the fact, because they consider that vaccination is a voluntary act and they consider that “unfortunately” there are some variables that they cannot control that have to do with the beliefs that people have in that place and also with the way in which communication reached those communities.
“We have to recognize that sometimes communication is not necessarily the most effective way to get a clear message across, but we firmly believe that there is no justification for acting violently against a group of people who are at the service of the people of Guatemala,” he said. Eat.
The minister mentioned that it has been decided to safeguard the personnel who were going to do these rural community vacations, but that does not mean that they will give up in the effort to vaccinate people.
“We want to bring the opportunity to get vaccinated to people who cannot get to the vaccination center,” Coma said.
Authorities support
Minister Coma said that the support of local authorities is essential to bring accurate vaccination information to people.
He pointed out that if the perception of the population is that vaccination and the work that Health does is not good, it is necessary to do a prior communication work so that the authorities have the possibility of approaching these communities.
Change of strategy
Coma announced that an effort has been made to communicate about the importance of vaccination in local languages, but that the messages have probably not been adequately received and that is why there is a complete rethinking of the strategy in which they are working.
Francisco Coma mentioned that within the emergency law to combat covid-19 there is an obligation and that one of the axes of the new law is to strengthen and improve communication, so a whole strategy is being worked on to be able to address this need and fulfill with what the law dictates.
Vacuna sputnik v
Regarding the Sptunik V vaccines that have not been recognized by the WHO, the minister said that this biological was approved under the existing approval structure of the emergency law by a level four laboratory, therefore it contains the quality standards that are required. .
He said that according to the information provided to them on the subject, approval by the World Health Organization (WHO) is very close to approval and with that, people’s concern would be removed.
He stated that Sputnik V is a qualifying vaccine and that international studies have shown that immunization levels are adequate and therefore there is no change in strategy at this time.
Vaccines for youth ages 12 to 17
Coma said that regarding the arrival of Pfizer vaccines to immunize young people between 12 and 17 years old, they do not have information on the arrival date, but that according to the information available from Covax, it is that they could be arriving the third week of October.
“There are 2.5 million doses, which will allow us to continue with the already expanded vaccination process for children between 12 and 17 years old without comorbidities. I remember again, please, the initial plan of opening from 12 to 17 years was like the patients or the little ones that could have chronic diseases or some pathology that could quickly require vaccination, but with the coming of these vaccines we have the blessing of that we will be able to continue with the vaccination campaign ”, concluded Coma.
Lynching attempt
Last Monday, October 4, two mobile vaccination brigades that arrived at the Maguilá 1 village, Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, but were attacked by residents who oppose receiving the coronavirus vaccine, as confirmed by Eliú Mazariegos, director of Services of Health of the Ministry of Public Health.
He added that at least 15 nurses were attacked by the residents, who also took away the thermos where they transport the vaccines to keep the chain cold and destroyed them along with the medicine. The personnel who were going to lynch were rescued by government authorities.
“We are not going to put any member of our team at risk,” said Gabriel Sandoval, head of the Alta Verapaz Health area, on Tuesday, October 5, after he announced the cancellation of community vaccination against the coronavirus in Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, where 17 health workers were held by residents of Maguilá 1 who are opposed to being inoculated.
Alta Verapaz reported 17,156 accumulated cases of covid-19 on October 5, of which 860 are active and the death of 182 people has been reported. Only Fray Bartolomé reports 621 cases and 12 deaths.
Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas occupies position 10 of the 17 municipalities of that department in scope of vaccination, and it is estimated that there is a population of 54 thousand 35 inhabitants, of which only 12% -6 thousand 465 people have been vaccinated- with a first dose, while with the second dose only 6% -3 thousand 461 people-.
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