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If the national emergency law for the care of the COVID-19 pandemic is approved, President Alejandro Giammattei has a challenge ahead for the vaccination of children under 17 years of age as established by the regulations, since the recommended vaccine to immunize children and adolescents is produced by Pfizer, which the Government has ruled out buying due to the requirements they establish.
#PORTADADEHOY
Vaccination of children under 17 is a challenge for Giammattei ???? [https://t.co/1HoxHSoF14] pic.twitter.com/MIBQH5CKY3– La Hora newspaper (@lahoragt) September 13, 2021
Two and a half months after the approval of the “Law of Exemption from Liability and Creation of the Compensation Mechanism for the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines” was approved by the National Emergency Congress, the Government has not yet closed any contracts with pharmaceutical companies. such as Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer, the latter two recommended for use in minors.
In the case of the Pfizer vaccine, the president assured a few weeks ago that a contract with that pharmaceutical company compromises the sovereignty of the country.
SLOWING EXPECTS THAT STATEMENTS WILL STAY IN A “RAPTURE”
The independent analyst and medical specialist in public health, also a member of the GT Data Laboratory, Karin Slowing hopes that Giammattei’s statements are only an “outburst.”
“I hope it was just an outburst that day and that the negotiation and purchase can be managed for a little more than two million people in that age range,” he said.
Since the approval of the Law of Exemption from responsibility for the purchase of vaccines, the Health portfolio has not confirmed any contract with Pfizer.
In this sense, Slowing pointed out that, “it is serious, I hope that the mandate of the law that Congress is issuing will be forceful, because it would be very serious if they are not already in negotiation.”
“I am a little more concerned by the words of the Minister of Finance, when he states that there is no need to buy vaccines, because they have already donated us, that is, he is not seeing reality and that worries me because he manages the checkbook,” added Slowing.
PDH: MODERN MAY ALSO BE USED
On the other hand, Zulma Calderón, defender of the Health of the Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH), explained that together with the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna is also recommended in minors, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Guatemala has not entered into an agreement with that pharmaceutical company either.
“Without including children 12 years and older, it is impossible for Guatemala to achieve the herd immunity of the 70 percent of the population that we are looking for,” explained Calderón.
CDC RECOMMENDS PFIZER
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of the Pfizer vaccine to immunize children and adolescents.
On its website it states: “The CDC recommends that all people 12 years of age and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves and help protect against COVID-19. Vaccination of a large proportion of the population is a fundamental tool to stop the pandemic. People who are fully vaccinated can resume activities that they used to do before the pandemic. Learn more about what you and your child or teen can do once they are fully vaccinated. Children 12 years of age and older can receive the COVID-12 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech. “
THE CONGRESS KNOWS TODAY INITIATIVE
This Monday, the plenary session of Congress will know the national emergency bill for the care of the pandemic. Article 32 of initiative 5977 reads, “Schedule and develop the vaccination process for minors between 12 and 17 years of age. Likewise, guarantee the completion of the complete scheme for those who have the first dose ”.
THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS
On August 8, President Giammattei warned in an interview with “Notisiete” of the open television channels that they could not reach an agreement with Pfizer, because the requirements they ask for compromise the sovereignty of the country.
“The law that Congress passed helps us with Johnson – & Johnson-, it does not help us with Pfizer, because they put a requirement there that we cannot, we cannot renounce the sovereignty of the country that practically what they ask of us, is something to what we cannot access ”, explained the president without providing further details regarding what that requirement is.
SALUD SAYS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
According to the Ministry of Health, negotiations with both pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Moderna continue, although at the moment it is unknown what their progress is or if they are close to signing a contract.
EXECUTIVE WITHOUT ANSWER
An attempt was also made to know through the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency what is the progress in the negotiations for the purchase of immunization vaccines for minors, however, at the end of this note, no response was received.
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