|
  The most recent shipment with 80,730 doses of Pfizer vaccines arrived on a DHL cargo last night. - National Emergency Commission photo -  |
||||||||||
|
Published
Friday, July 2, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Costa Rica has imported 2,794,785 vaccines against covid-19, according to the National Emergency Commission. The most recent shipment with 80,730 doses of Pfizer vaccines arrived on a DHL cargo last night at the Juan Santamarķa International Airport in Alajuela Province, as part of the 6,000,425 Pfizer vaccines to vaccinate more than 3 million people. A short video of the vaccines arrival shared by the Commission can be seen on the AM Costa Rica YouTube channel. The country bought a total of 9,130,725 doses to ensure treatment for more than 4.5 million residents living in Costa Rica, according to the commission statistics. The expected donation of 1.5 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines that were being managed by the Costa Rica Doctors College was canceled. According to a brief response from the organization, some of the doses are about to expire. Despite the treatment can be used up to six weeks after its expiration date, it was decided not to continue with the process of receiving the donation. The vaccines were donated by the State of Texas. The Emergency Commission plan is importing 2.5 million vaccines between July and September. By the end of this year, the government's goal is to have vaccinated at least 3.5 million people in order to keep the rate of infection down and achieve herd immunity. Another major donation of vaccines against covid-19 to Costa Rica was announced earlier this month by the U.S. government. On June 3, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a donation of 80 million doses. Of these six million doses for Latin America and the Caribbean will be distributed through COVAX, according to the U.S. government statement. There is not any confirmation by health authorities on this donation for Costa Rica. As of Tuesday, 2,440,385 vaccines against covid-19 have been applied, reaching a national vaccination rate of 47.3 per 100 inhabitants, according to the statistics from the Vaccine National Information System. Of these, 1,629,222 people have received their first dose. And 811,163 people have completed their two-dose treatment. According to the Ministry of Health, there are 69,994 active covid-19 cases in the country. Of the total 369,540 cases detected since last year, there were 4,674 deaths listed as covid-19 related, approximately 1.3% death rate in Costa Rica. The pandemic has killed more than 3.9 million people worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. -------------------------- How should Costa Rica health authorities speed up the vaccination campaign? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com            
|
||||||||||
|