With better coordination and order, the sixth day of the day of immunization against covid-19 for Nicaraguans takes place, which since last Thursday, October 21, Honduras takes place at the border posts of La Fraternidad-El Espino and Guasaule, in addition to posts enabled in previous days in neighboring towns. It was confirmed that the sessions will continue the rest of the week.
Hundreds of Nicaraguans, especially adolescents and young people, continue to travel to that country in search of the American vaccines Pfizer and Moderna – both approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) -, since in Nicaragua for this segment of the population they have available the Cuban sera Soberana and Abdala (for ages between 2 and 17 years) and the Russian Sputnik Light for those over 18 years old until 29.
Due to the overflow of thousands of Nicaraguans, in addition to the posts set up on both borders, the vaccination centers were expanded; Three were opened in San Marcos de Colón, near the La Fraternidad-El Espino border, and another three in Choluteca, near Guasaule.
In a preliminary way, the Ministry of Health of Honduras quantifies 35 thousand Nicaraguans over 12 years of age vaccinated with the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna, on a day that today reached its sixth day and will continue the rest of the week. They hope that within 28 days, all Nicaraguans with their first dose will attend to complete the scheme with their second dose.
Honduran solidarity marks the days
In the La Fraternidad-El Espino border area, the process was speeded up this Wednesday. Customs authorities now allow the passage of people who are going to be vaccinated, they are only asked to present their identity card and upon return the vaccination card to enter Nicaragua. In Guasalule they continue to cross the river to enter Honduras.
According to representatives of the Honduran Ministry of Health, for this Wednesday, October 27, in the San Marcos de Colón area, 7 thousand doses are available, and a similar amount in the Choluteca area.
At one of the vaccination posts in San Marcos de Colón, Dr. Leonardo Landa requested the support of volunteers to speed up the process. According to the doctor, the overflow of Nicaraguans requesting the vaccine forced the authorities to dispose of all their personnel depending on the process, but they cannot completely abandon their functions or care for Hondurans, for which he asked for support.
In San Marcos de Colón, it was reported that during the early hours of Wednesday morning some Hondurans distributed coffee, donuts and food to Nicaraguans. While in the Choluteca area, residents of nearby communities housed some families to prevent them from spending the night in the open. The Nicaraguan population has been grateful for the good treatment and Catracha solidarity, although a few groups of Nicaraguans have clouded the process by behaving in an uncivilized manner, leaving food waste lying on the streets after their long wait.
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Vaccination the rest of the week
Volunteers do not need to have medical knowledge, they can collaborate in collecting data and making vaccination cards, since these two processes are the ones that take the most time.
With the participation of volunteers, waiting times would be reduced, although attendees do not complain about the wait. On the contrary, they are grateful for the openness of that country and assure that once the process has begun, it advances rapidly. In addition, Nicaraguans who travel for vaccines take into account that in Nicaragua hundreds are queuing up a day in advance and many remain unvaccinated.
Landa confirmed that the La Fraternidad-El Espino and Guasaule border posts will continue to vaccinate during the rest of the week, but the provision of additional posts in nearby communities will depend on demand, but also on the availability of vaccines and medical personnel in area.
You can also read: Why, if Nicaragua vaccinates children and youth against covid, Nicaraguan families seek immunization in Honduras?
Vaccines are not expired
According to the Honduran media, given the large influx of Nicaraguans in the vaccination centers in the border areas, organizations related to the Ortega regime have launched defamation campaigns in which they ensure that the vaccines that are being applied are expired or within the deadline. to be used.
The authorities have explained that the vaccines do have a short shelf life, but those that are being applied expire in November, therefore they are suitable for use. Unofficially, it was learned that in order not to run the risk that they would expire without benefiting the population, Honduras decided to make them available to Nicaraguans who for several months had been approaching the vaccination centers to request them.
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Nicaragua is the most lagging country in the region
According to the detail of the statistics of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), As of October 27, Honduras has received 4.19 million doses through the Covax mechanism. He has also received other donations and bought immunizers.
To date, according to PAHO, Honduras has applied 6.60 million doses. Despite its massive campaigns and the use of mobile units and house-to-house visits, it has a coverage rate of 27.47 people with a complete scheme for every 100 inhabitants.
On the other hand, Nicaragua is the most lagging country in the region. As of October 27, he has only received 2.40 million doses through the Covax mechanism. And instead of buying vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), it has used the loans it received to supply itself with those manufactured by its political partners, Russia and Cuba, which still do not have health guarantees. Currently Nicaragua has applied 1.30 million doses and has a coverage rate with a complete scheme of 5.41 people per 100 inhabitants.
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