Record COVID-19 Cases Propel Vaccination Efforts

Yet again, Mexico reached a historic number of COVID-19 cases. The country broke its previous record and hit 22,711 confirmed cases on a single day this Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 3 million. The country is now speeding up its vaccinating campaigns for all adults over 18 years old by closing more deals to acquire vaccines.

Here is the week in health!

Vaccination Advancement

• The US will donate 8.5 million vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca to Mexico, reported the Minister of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard. This agreement took place after a telephone conversation between President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and US Vice President Kamala Harris.
• The Governor-elect of Nuevo Leon, Samuel García reported that Austin donated 15,000 different vaccines, while Laredo provided 1,500 Johnson & Johnson vaccines. These vaccines will be used to inoculate Nuevo Leon’s workers under 39 years old at border towns. No visa will be required and free transportation will be available to transport workers to the border.
• Many countries have mandated obligatory vaccines for some population groups sparking human rights debates. As the Delta variant spreads, countries are full-on considering a mandatory vaccine for all citizens, a measure that faces different fronts of resistance. Learn more about this debate in this article.
• Mexico called on G20 to accept the COVID-19 vaccines already approved by WHO and avoid using them in geopolitics schemes, said Ebrard. WHO has approved six vaccines, which include those made by Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Sinovac. The EU and the US do not accept at least three of the ones Mexico has been using, including Sinovac’s, despite it being already authorized by WHO for its emergency use. Find out more on this article.

Preventive Medicine on Insurance Policies

• BBVA México and Bupa Seguros México launched ‘Seguro: tu médico particular’ (Insurance: your private doctor), an instrument that supports policyholders with in-person and video consultations, medicines, doctor visits at patients’ homes, diagnostic studies and support during medical emergencies, if needed. The policy aims to complement public or private insurance, in addition to providing financial support to people who do not have the protection of a health service.

Impacts of Isolation

• The isolation and lockdown measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic increased users’ screen time by at least 35 percent in Mexico. Excessive screen time can lead to several eyesight problems, which can later develop complications such as computer eye strain syndrome. To know more about preventing eye stain issues, visit this article.

Historic Health Issues Raise Concerns

• Globally, about 830,000 deaths could be prevented if each newborn received breast milk in the first hours of life, according to Save The Children. A report by UNICEF found that health establishments, points of sale and advertising in Chihuahua and Puebla show clear violations of the Code of commercialization of breast milk substitutes. In Mexico, only 18 percent of children are breastfed in the first hour of life.