Argentina will defer application of second dose of vaccines

What plans does Argentina have in the face of a second wave?

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(CNN Spanish) ––

The government of Argentina reported this Friday that, in agreement with its 24 jurisdictions, the application of the second dose of vaccines against covid-19 will be deferred for three months.

The announcement of the Ministry of Health occurs while the inoculation does not advance at the expected rate.

In the statement, the authorities explained that the decision seeks to "vaccinate as many people as possible with the first dose."

Precisely "to maximize the benefits of vaccination and reduce the impact of hospitalizations and mortality."

Argentina has received doses of Sputnik V, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm.

The second doses will be deferred to a minimum interval of 12 weeks from the administration of the first.

After 3 months of the first dose, the application of the second dose is suggested "in a staggered manner, prioritizing sequentially the population at higher risk of severe disease (over 60 and people between 18 and 59 years with risk factors) to complete scheme ».

As for Health personnel, the recommendation is to complete the schemes with conventional interval to those who carry out healthcare activity and with high exposure to risk or who handle medical samples.

For those who were diagnosed with coronavirus, it is proposed to postpone the administration of the first dose.

The period would be "between three and six months after clinical discharge."

In the case of COVID-19 positives with a confirmed diagnosis after the first dose of vaccine, the proposal is to postpone the application of the second dose "between three and six months after clinical discharge."

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 2,278,115 cases of covid-19 and 55,092 deaths associated with the disease were confirmed.

Coronavirus Vaccine