By Julia Symmes Cobb
BOGOTA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Colombia will receive its first
shipment of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc
and BioNTech SE in February, the country health ministry said on
Monday.
The 1.7 million doses are enough to vaccinate about 850,000
people as each requires two doses. First in line for
inoculations will be healthcare workers and those over 80 years
old, officials said in a statement.
The Andean country, whose daily confirmed number of new
coronavirus cases hit a record hit of 13,990 on Saturday, said
last week it signed deals with Pfizer and AstraZeneca Plc
to provide 10 million doses each of their COVID-19
vaccines.
The country, which has recorded more than 1.5 million
coronavirus cases and over 40,000 deaths, will receive an
additional 20 million doses through the COVAX mechanism, giving
it enough vaccine to inoculate some 20 million people.
Colombia will provide COVID-19 vaccines for free under its
national vaccination plan, but is also preparing rules to allow
people to purchase the vaccine privately, the ministry said in a
statement.
People between the ages of 60 and 79 and those with chronic
health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe
COVID-19 will form the second tranche of people to be
vaccinated, Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said.
Members of the general population - including people in the
military, teachers and those who care for others - will follow,
Ruiz added.
"All of this plan we are looking to carry out in 2021," he
said in the statement.
The country will not vaccinate those under 16 or pregnant
women because not enough data on the effect of vaccines in those
populations is available yet, the ministry added.
Colombian officials have urged people to avoid peak shopping
times and to celebrate holidays with only their household, to
keep virus transmission down as they await the vaccines.
Capital Bogota on Monday returned to restrictions that
allow just one person per household to go shopping and restrict
entrance to stores and restaurants.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb
Editing by Bill Berkrot)
Astrazeneca (AZN)
