SAN SALVADOR –
Thousands of Salvadorans, mostly teenagers, arrived at the vaccination centers on Wednesday to receive the first dose against the new coronavirus in response to calls from Public Health authorities to start the immunization process at a time that has been confirmed that the Delta variant is circulating in the country.
The Ministry of Health had established that the target population of Salvadorans to be immunized was 4.5 million people, but by including those over 12 years of age and pregnant women, the goal is expanded to almost six million people. The total population amounts to 6.7 million inhabitants.
Health Minister Francisco Alabí reported that the country received a new batch of 169,650 doses of Pfizer on Wednesday, adding 10,163,490 doses of the drug to provide protection to Salvadorans.
“Five months have passed since the first batch arrived on February 17. Some sectors said that it was impossible to obtain the biological one, but what happiness that we are receiving a new shipment and we already have more than 10 million doses for the country ”, said Alabí when receiving the vaccines from Pfizer.
He added that when they began to apply the vaccines to those over 12 years old and pregnant from 16 weeks of gestation, on Tuesday 87,838 people received the drug and that only in the vaccination center enabled in the new Hospital El Salvador in the capital, more of 19,000, the vast majority adolescents, received the first dose.
President Nayib Bukele explained on Twitter that the legal representatives of the young people must make their appointment online and accompany them to the vaccination center.
“The process is easy, we made the appointment and they gave us the date and here we are. My daughter has already received the vaccine and we are leaving more relaxed because we know that the situation is serious, “Manuel Ayala, who accompanied his 14-year-old daughter, told The Associated. “How good that we can now vaccinate our underage children, we have to protect ourselves,” he added.
“It doesn’t hurt at all and it’s fast. All my friends are already getting vaccinated. We have to do it to protect our parents as well, “said Esteban, 15, after receiving his first dose at the” Vaccination Megacenter “at Hospital El Salvador.
In recent days, an increase in infections has been confirmed. After having records of less than 100 cases a day, the figures are close to 300 cases, while the death toll rose to 16, the highest so far this year. The report states that, of the 8,156 active cases, 118 people are in critical condition and 291 are serious.
So far the Central American country has registered 87,498 infections, 2,672 deaths and 76,670 people have overcome the disease.
Since February 17, when vaccination began, the first dose has been given to 2.9 million people, while 1.5 million have received the second dose.
In El Salvador, vaccines from AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna are being applied. and Sinopharm.
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