Panama reports that it would receive a second batch of vaccines in two weeks

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(Credit: LUIS ACOSTA / AFP via Getty Images)

(CNN Spanish) ––

In the coming weeks, the Government of Panama could begin receiving its second batch of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines against the coronavirus.

This was stated this Friday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Erika Mouynes.

In a public event, Mouynes reported that he had communication with that company.

Panama received the first batch of vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech on January 20.

According to the government of Laurentino Cortizo, they expected the delivery of 40,000 doses, but in reality only 12,840 arrived.

Which altered the national vaccination plan.

In fact, the strategy would start with health personnel on the front line of battle against covid-19 and older adults in bed.

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The Panamanian Foreign Minister expanded on details in a message she posted on her Twitter account.

As he explained, the PanaVac19 team received confirmation from Pfizer that shipments will resume continuously as of February 15.

"Pfizer will maintain its commitment, and Panama will receive progressively weekly batches of vaccines to complete a total of 450,000 doses by the end of March," added Mouynes.

That is the total amount that, he assured, the Panamanian government acquired.

From the first shipment of the 12,840 doses, approximately 6,420 were initially applied to health personnel in public hospitals.

The remainder was reserved for the second dose to ensure immunization.

However, in the face of protests from professionals who were not vaccinated, the Ministry of Health began to vaccinate missing health personnel since last Wednesday and who treats patients with covid-19.

Private hospitals were also included.

Until the afternoon of this Thursday, the epidemiological report of the Ministry of Health indicates that Panama records 316,808 confirmed cases of coronavirus, of which 5,196 people died.

There are 41,975 active cases.

Of these, 2,667 patients are hospitalized and 243 in intensive care.

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