If funds run out, the government will look for “alternatives” to keep COVID vaccines free

Given the possibility that next year there will be no funds to pay for the cost of the vaccines upfront COVID-19the governor Peter Pierluisi He said on Tuesday that he is looking for alternatives to keep inoculation free.

“It is that we are already in another phase of the pandemic. The government will do what it can do with the state funds that we have, but surely there comes a time when, including federal funds, they are depleted, that is, they are depleted,” said Pierluisi.

“We are waiting. Now, my appeal to the population is to get vaccinated with the bivalent vaccine, which is very effective against the original Covid, such as the omicron. That vaccine saves lives and prevents hospitalizations. On the other hand, that they are vaccinated against the flu because we both impact the population at the same time,” he added.

He indicated that he had given instructions to the Secretary of Health, Charles Melladoto intensify the educational campaign against COVID-19 “to sensitize our municipality to protect itself”.

“The fact that we are not here to force the use of the mask does not mean that those who are older or have compromised health should not use it. Let him use it,” he told her.

According to official health data, seven new deaths from COVID-19which brings the total accumulated in this line to 5,444 since the beginning of the emergency in Puerto Rico.

Health reported that the total number of patients hospitalized for the virus stands at 201. The global number of people hospitalized is divided into 177 adults and 24 minors.

Meanwhile, the virus positivity rate reported as of 6 a.m. was 22.03%, according to the agency’s BioPortal of Data.