Coronavirus vaccines: the government welcomed Pfizer’s announcement and is preparing to sign the agreement with Russia

The news on the approval of the coronavirus vaccine, developed by the American company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, for use in the UK has generated worldwide enthusiasm. It was a clear signal of progress in the fight against a pandemic that marked the life of humans throughout 2020 and that until now they only had many vaccine projects but few of them approved to be placed.

The news from Europe had a good impact on the Argentine government, which has the vaccine in its action plan Pfizer, the most complex from the logistical point of view, as it must be kept at a temperature of -70 ° C. However, in the Ministry of Health which Ginés González García they are cautious with the positive impact of news that has traveled the world.

The minister announced Wednesday afternoon that the Pfizer laboratory has submitted an application for approval of the vaccine in Argentina to ANMAT. This implies that the agreement for the delivery of the dose advances and the company has the guarantee for its commercialization. What remains to be coordinated is the date they will arrive in the country. It is an advance but the time that takes the approval of the delivery away is still widespread.

The delivery of the 3 million doses, which means 1.5 million vaccines. But that agreement must also be signed in writing. In Health they believe that the best scenario is to be able to have those doses before the end of January. These are hypothetical statements because, to date, they do not have absolute certainties. Progress and setbacks in the negotiations change permanently.

In clinical trials, reported in recent weeks, Pfizer’s vaccine proved to be 95% effective and with good results for all people, young and old. It was the first to be approved but it may not be the first to arrive in Argentina.

The first to arrive in the country would be the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. It is the most advanced. But the date would not be in December, as the president had announced Alberto Fernandez in his last public appearances talking about the subject. The estimated delivery date they manage in the Health portfolio is mid-January and would be half of the doses purchased. It all depends on the final approval of stage 3, production capacity and delivery times.

At Casa Rosada they insist that the first doses can arrive before the end of the year, in the last days of December. Marked two different possible scenarios within the same government.

As indicated by the national government, the details would be finalized between Thursday and Friday sign the agreement with the Russian state of about 23 million doses. Within the next week, they have three working days. Each vaccine contains two doses that must be conditioned at -20 ° C, which turns out to be one less barrier for coordinating logistics across the country. Argentina could have around 12 million doses (6 million vaccines) next month to kick-start the vaccination plan. It is the main gamble of the government.

The status of the vaccine developed by Oxford University and made by the laboratory AstraZeneca it’s different. The supply agreement is the only one that Argentina has signed. They are close to 22 million doses which must be kept at 8 ° C. A refrigerator is sufficient to maintain adequate refrigeration. The vaccine would arrive between March and April. Finally, Chinese is the least advanced and has no approximate release date.

Argentina is also part of Covax, the global initiative that hopes to distribute approximately 2 billion doses to 92 low- and middle-income countries at a maximum cost of $ 3 per dose. In the government 8 million doses are expected to be distributed from that fund. The vaccine puzzle is consistent but, to form it, adjust the dates.

The Ministry of Health expects to have between 55 and 60 million doses during the first six months of 2021 to vaccinate 30 million people. The first goal is to prevent more people from dying. For this, the key is to move quickly in vaccinating people who are between 18 and 60 and have pre-existing diseases, and even those who are over 60. Also, on those who were at the forefront of the pandemic: medical and security personnel.

This Thursday the representatives of Health will meet the National Commission for Vaccinations (Conain), a body that advises the Ministry on decisions on matters relating to immunization. In that encounter, who I am will begin to be resolved the priority ones within the priority ones. That is, who will be vaccinated first when the vaccines arrive and start distribution in the provinces.

In parallel, In the portfolio led by González García, they started designing the vaccination logistic plan. Next week the various secretaries of the ministry will divide the regions of the country and to start with the main provinces manage the action plan. The idea is that these secretaries are, during the months of vaccination, the references of the state to the regions of By whom, center, south, NEA and NOA.

Provincial governments have begun to put together the action plan and purchase the items needed to protect vaccines. The Ministry will collaborate with syringes, needles and all disposable material. Also, They have instructed the provincial ministries of health so that everyone can reassign items from programs like Sumar or Proteger, which are funded by the Health, to purchase the material they need to vaccinate.

Next December 10 will mark a year since the start of the management of Alberto Fernández and the Frente de Todos. On that day, the secretaries of the Ministry, the chief of staff and Ginés González García himself will divide into the regions to start working on planning the vaccination operation together with the health authorities of each province. The political message is linked to the symbolism of showing a government that intends to federate every decision.

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The UK has authorized Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine against COVID-19 and will begin applying it from next Monday

Coronavirus: Russian Sputnik V vaccine could be produced in Argentina