Castro spoke with the media on Wednesday at the PAI headquarters and his statements were picked up by ABC. The doctor indicated that the application of these doses is expected to expire this month to prevent them from spoiling. It should be remembered that the AstraZeneca vaccines only apply to people 30 years of age and older.
The doctor indicated that there is “a lot of reluctance” of the population of 30 years or more to receive vaccines against COVID, which generates a “concern” within the MSP. At another point, he ruled out that there are Pfizer vaccines that are about to expire.
Read More: Health without plan “B” due to imminent expiration of Astrazeneca vaccines
“The vaccines that were donated had an upcoming expiration date and work has already started with them. The donation comes at a time where we needed to receive it, but it coincided with the arrival of other vaccines and the epidemiological situation. It was not improper planning, they worked from the moment they arrived ”, he declared about the AstraZeneca vaccines in conversation with ABC TV.
It is expected to reduce the age group
In this context, he said that since last Monday there has been a daily average of 15,000 adolescents between 16 and 17 years old who received the first dose, reported Fiona Aquino, a journalist for ABC TV. Dr. Castro indicated that, at this rate, the immunization of about 70,000 adolescents is expected for this Friday. The vaccine they receive is the Pfizer.
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The EPI director also added that it is expected to lower the age range so that more adolescents receive COVID vaccines from Monday, November 8, in order to increase the number of immunized people.
Read More: They enable the signing of an Affidavit to expedite vaccination in adolescents
However, Castro said that the requirements that parents are required to receive the vaccines will continue. These bureaucratic steps discouraged the intention of many to go to one of the vaccination centers and generated several complaints among those responsible for the adolescents.
The reports of the ABC Color team that visited the vaccinations show that the participation of adolescents is low. The main criticism is the presentation of documents such as the birth certificate or the family book if they accompany their children, or a court decision in the case of the guardian.
Read More: Anticovid: Not 20,000 adolescents were vaccinated on the first day and the criticism continues
Yesterday, despite the fact that Public Health decided that in the case of not having the documentation, an affidavit certifying the affiliation or degree of kinship with the minor would be signed, low participation persisted in the authorized positions.
Currently, of the adolescent population between 12 and 17 years old, estimated at 823,000 people, only about 200,000 registered to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, so it is estimated that Public Health would have all the necessary doses to reach the enrolled adolescent population.
