Panama will buy 2 million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children under 18 years of age
The Cabinet Council authorized the Ministry of Health (Minsa) to sign an amendment to the contract with the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, for the additional purchase of 1,999,530 additional doses of the vaccine against covid-19 for $23,994,360.
These additional doses will be used to cover children under 18 years of age.
The Cabinet Resolution by which the purchase is authorized indicates that the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) will include in the General State Budget of the corresponding fiscal period, the items necessary to cover the commitments acquired with the signing of the amendment.
Pfizer's vaccine is the only one so far approved in people from 16 years of age, and it has completed pediatric studies of the population between 12 and 16 years, so it is expected that the information will be available to regulatory authorities and experts. before the month of July, the National Government explained when justifying the acquisition of the new doses.
Pfizer has also announced that it is about to start studies with the population between 5 and 12 years of age.
"Guaranteeing this new batch of doses in advance, gives us the advantage of being able to use it in these population groups," says a government statement.
To date, Panama has received 157,920 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, of the 450,000 that are expected to arrive in the country in the first quarter of the year.
With these first batches of the preparation from the United States company, stage 1A of phase 1 vaccination was completed, which includes health personnel on the front line and adults over 60 years bedridden in nursing homes and homes, and stage 1B began. that includes non-prioritized health workers of stage 1A, essential groups of the Public Force, and population over 16 years of age with disabilities certified in the Senadis until December 31, 2020 and bedridden, in addition to the toilet authority.
On March 4, phase 2 of vaccination will begin, which includes in its stage 2A adults over 60 years of age, and the population aged 16 to 59 years with chronic diseases, while stage 2B includes teachers and administrators of public schools and private and personal of the Caipis.
The Cabinet Resolution by which the purchase is authorized indicates that the Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) will include in the General State Budget of the corresponding fiscal period, the items necessary to cover the commitments acquired with the signing of the amendment.
Pfizer's vaccine is the only one so far approved in people from 16 years of age, and it has completed pediatric studies of the population between 12 and 16 years, so it is expected that the information will be available to regulatory authorities and experts. before the month of July, the National Government explained when justifying the acquisition of the new doses.
Pfizer has also announced that it is about to start studies with the population between 5 and 12 years of age.
"Guaranteeing this new batch of doses in advance, gives us the advantage of being able to use it in these population groups," says a government statement.
To date, Panama has received 157,920 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, of the 450,000 that are expected to arrive in the country in the first quarter of the year.
With these first batches of the preparation from the United States company, stage 1A of phase 1 vaccination was completed, which includes health personnel on the front line and adults over 60 years bedridden in nursing homes and homes, and stage 1B began. that includes non-prioritized health workers of stage 1A, essential groups of the Public Force, and population over 16 years of age with disabilities certified in the Senadis until December 31, 2020 and bedridden, in addition to the toilet authority.
On March 4, phase 2 of vaccination will begin, which includes in its stage 2A adults over 60 years of age, and the population aged 16 to 59 years with chronic diseases, while stage 2B includes teachers and administrators of public schools and private and personal of the Caipis.