COVID-19 Vaccination for Minors/Medical Deficit Continues

COVID-19 vaccination for minors. Deputy Minister for Prevention and Health Promotion Hugo López-Gatell announced that the COVID-19 vaccination will begin for children between the ages of five and 11. The registration for those interested can be done through the government´s official page starting this Thursday. . Moreover, Gatell announced that for the vaccination of this group, the federal government has already closed a deal with Pfizer BioNTech to supply the vaccines. "We have already signed the contract with Pfizer to acquire around eight million doses that will allow us to start the vaccination campaign.”

Previously, the Ministry of Health announced that it has a stock of approximately10.5 million COVID-19 vaccines for the Mexican adult population. However, there were not enough vaccines for those under 12 years of age. Consequently, since last month, the Ministry of Health began negotiations with Pfizer BioNTech for the acquisition of more vaccines. Previously, for the 12+ age bracket, the government applied AstraZeneca's vaccines.

Medical shortage continues. Minister of Health Jorge Alcocer reported that of the 10,920 doctors who registered for the new medical positions offered by the government, 57 percent did not attend their appointment for the delivery of documents and assignment of positions. In addition, Alcocer highlighted that those doctors (41 percent) who did attend their appointment have passed to the second stage for hiring. “This national recruitment offer has a record of 10,920 registered doctors. However, 6,229 did not show up to their appointment. The rest, the 4,494 doctors, were accredited and passed to the next stage.

Last month, after President Andres Manuel López Obrador was widely criticized for wanting to hire Cuban doctors to work in Mexico´s marginalized areas, the government announced that it will open new positions for Mexican doctors. Previously, López Obrador reported that the country has a deficit of 50,000 doctors, a problem that is exacerbated in rural areas because Mexican medical professionals seek to study and work in larger cities. López Obrador said that sometimes Mexican doctors even refuse to move to rural areas. Meanwhile, medical and professional organizations in Mexico have claimed that López Obrador's initiative discriminates against Mexican doctors because they already compete in an oversaturated job market.

Monkeypox in Mexico. López-Gatell reported that there are 5 cases of monkeypox in Mexico: four in Mexico City and one in Jalisco. López-Gatell explained that although smallpox has hit Mexico, it is not expected to become a pandemic. “Right now, we have five cases in Mexico: four cases were reported in Mexico City and one was confirmed in Jalisco. We ask the population to remain calm because so far there are no indications that it could become something like the COVID-19 pandemic. We just have to take care of ourselves and inform the medical authorities if you are not feeling well.”

Last week, Mexico reported the first confirmed case of monkeypox. As of today, 20 countries have reported cases of the disease, according to WHO. Mexican authorities explained that the monkeypox spreads from person to person through direct contact. The efficiency of contagion is low, so there are generally isolated cases or small outbreaks. Currently there is no vaccine nor treatment available for this disease.