By Julia Symmes Cobb
BOGOTA, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Colombia has inked deals with
pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and AstraZeneca
to provide 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, President Ivan
Duque said on Friday.
The Andean country topped 40,000 coronavirus deaths and
witnessed a new record for daily confirmed cases, reaching
13,277 on Friday. It has had nearly 1.5 million confirmed cases.
"We have closed a deal with pharmaceutical company Pfizer
for the acquisition of 10 million doses. We have also closed a
deal with AstraZeneca for the acquisition of 10 million doses,"
Duque said on his nightly television broadcast.
The 10 million doses each from Pfizer and AstraZeneca and 20
million doses, which will be received through the COVAX
mechanism will cover two doses for 20 million people, pending
approvals by the national health regulator, Duque added.
"In the first weeks of 2021 we will be carrying out the
process of mass vaccination," he said.
Colombia will focus initially on vaccinating healthcare
workers, those over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions
like hypertension, HIV and diabetes. It will provide inoculation
for free under its generous national vaccination plan.
The initial group set to be vaccinated comprises just over
11 million people, Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said on the
program. Recipients have already been identified by name using
health data, he added.
About 1.2 million of the first group are healthcare workers,
including clinic personnel like cleaners, Ruiz said. Many
vaccinations in 2021 will take place in June, July and August.
The country will continue negotiating with companies to
acquire more doses, Duque said.
Colombia authorities have repeatedly said vaccines like
Pfizer's, which require ultra-freezing will present logistical
challenges, but that they are preparing cold storage.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University,
was once seen as the frontrunner in the development of a
coronavirus vaccine, but has been overtaken by Pfizer, whose
shots have been rolled out in Britain and the United States this
month.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb, additional reporting by Nelson
Bocanegra; Editing by Aurora Ellis)