Coronavirus – Venezuela: “New phase” of vaccination campaign for citizens over 40 begins

In a new phase of the national immunization campaign for COVID-19 is the Venezuela, which is now addressed to citizens aged 40 and over, according to what was announced on Sunday by the country’s vice president Delsi Rodrεςguez, as cases of the Delta variant were recently diagnosed.

“Almost 19% of the population” of 30 million inhabitants has been “vaccinated” and “this (new) stage affects those over 40, mainly those who are more vulnerable because they have underlying diseases” which increase the risk of developing a serious form of COVID-19, said Ms Rodriguez, whose statement was broadcast on state television, with President Nicolas Maduro at her side.

The vice president called on all citizens over the age of 40 to call the special number opened in recent days to organize the vaccination.

For his part, Mr. Maduro said that the delivery of vaccine doses by the COVAX mechanism is imminent.

This mechanism, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), has confirmed that it will deliver (…) 6.2 million people will be immunized with vaccines we have purchased through the COVAX system (…). “Aircraft will start arriving in the next few days” with batches of vaccines that will “boost the immunization program” that has so far used Chinese, Russian and Cuban vaccines, the head of state said.

THE delivery of vaccines by COVAX, which aims to guarantee low- and middle-income countries access to vaccines, has become a months-long series as Venezuela faces international financial sanctions and the seizure of its assets abroad. In early July, Nicolas Maduro had reached the point of sending an ultimatum to COVAX, complaining that while his country had paid for vaccines, their deliveries were not being made.

He had previously complained that the United States had pledged $ 10 million, Caracas’ last payment to the COVAX program, as Washington imposed financial sanctions on his government.

The United States has blamed Juan Guido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, for the ouster of Latin America and has not recognized the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro. For three years they have repeatedly escalated diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions to force the socialist president to step down without success.

With the arrival of the vaccines from COVAX, the Minister of Health, Carlos Alvarado, hopes that the country will be able to succeed by October in immunizing 70% of the population. “More than 4.1 million people have received at least the first dose. “With these new vaccines coming in August, we will be able to reach the 70% vaccination in view of the resumption of school operations in October,” he said.

The country has been facing a sharp rise in cases since March. According to official figures disputed by the opposition as “highly underestimated”, some 3,300 deaths have been recorded so far due to COVID-19 out of a total of 305,000 more than SARS-CoV-2 infections.