This afternoon, the second batch of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company, consisting of some 74,400 doses, arrived in Panama.

Before the arrival of the doses, Dr. Eduardo Ortega, advisor to the Covid-19 Panama Vaccine Research Consortium , pointed out that half of these will be used, and the other half will be stored to guarantee the second dose per month.

"If they confirm to us from AstraZeneca, bilateral negotiation, or Covax, that we are going to have more doses, it is possible that they can be released," added Ortega.

It was detailed that the doses will be applied from May 13 in the centers that will enable self-speeding at the facilities of the David International Fair, Santiago Mali and at the Colón airport.

It should be noted that these doses were acquired by the National Government through the Covax Mechanism, a global initiative led by the Gavi Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), World Organization of Health and UNICEF, whose mission by 2021 is to ensure the equitable delivery of vaccines for 20% of the population of participating countries worldwide.

Currently in Panama, AstraZeneca doses are being placed on people (men over 30 years old and women over 50 years old) who sign up as volunteers in the App https://astrazeneca.fluyapp.com/.

It should be remembered that Panama received a first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 16, of about 36 thousand doses, which have been applied to volunteers in the Vacunatón 20-30 installed on the grounds of the Rommel Fernández Stadium. And with these doses the vaccination began on April 22.