Mexico Reports Advances in COVID-19 Vaccine Plans

As more vaccines go through the approval process, Mexico hopes to achieve its goals to inoculate its vulnerable people on time. Read this and more in the weekly roundup!

Mexico

Mexico’s Elderly Could Get Vaccinated in January. In April, Major Drive Should Be Completed

Mexico aims to wrap up its vaccinations for healthcare workers early January, reports Reuters. Next in line are the country’s elderly, who could be inoculated by the end of that same month, said President López Obrador. By the end of April, the president expects to have completed the main part of the program, protecting the majority of Mexicans in vulnerable groups. As of now, excess deaths of 214 people per day, 100 more than around the same time yesterday, are being reported in the capital. Many of these mortalities come from said vulnerable groups.

AstraZeneca, UK Celebrate Vaccine Approval

On Dec. 30, the UK government granted the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine emergency approval following the recommendation of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Mexico has already secured access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which López Obrador said he expected to go through approval rapidly.

After being the first to approve the Pfizer development to start vaccination programs, the UK is now the first to approve a second vaccine against COVID-19. This will allow the government to double its vaccination efforts.

DHL’s Plans for Proper Vaccine Distribution

DHL is important in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines in Mexico. Last week, MBN reported that a DHL airplane arrived at Mexico City’s International Airport carrying 3,000 vaccine doses. The German company has developed a strategy for the transportation and handling of Pfizer’s vaccine against COVID-19. Antonio Arranz, CEO of DHL Express in Mexico, explained to T21 the holistic solution that the company plans to use in Mexico: Global Forwarding, Supply Chain and Express to fully meet the transportation, storage and follow-up needs of the different vaccines demand, such as ultra-freezing or regular cold storage.

CanSino Will Submit Results of Vaccine Trial to Mexico Next Week

CanSino Biologics, a Chinese vaccine developer, will submit results of its COVID-19 vaccine trials to Mexico’s authorities next week, reports Reuters. Once approved, Mexico already has an agreement to purchase the vaccines.

Fentanyl Seizures Increase Almost Sixfold in 2020

Fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid, has seen ramped up production levels over 2020 in laboratories ran by criminal organizations. The drug, already blamed for causing thousands of overdose deaths in the US, is now causing major issues in Mexico as well, says the government. Seizures caused by fentanyl have risen sixfold this year, the country reported, despite efforts by both the US and Mexico to disrupt the supply.

International

Honeywell to Acquire Sparta Systems for US$1.3 billion

Medical Device Network reports that industry solutions provider Honeywell is gearing up to purchase Sparta Systems, which owns a pharma quality management software, for US$1.3 billion coming from New Mountain Capital.