New Group to be Vaccinated/Accusations Against Conacyt

Vaccinating minors. Deputy Minister of Prevention and Health Promotion Hugo López-Gatell announced that on Oct. 1, registration of minors between 12 and 17 years old and with a risk factor would begin so that they can be vaccinated against the coronavirus. He stressed that they would be vaccinated with the vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech since it is the only one that has been approved for minors. “Weeks ago, we began to prepare the conditions so that children and adolescents in Mexico who suffer from a chronic disease that makes them susceptible to COVID are vaccinated. It is part of the vaccination strategy, as we have indicated. The technical criteria derive from scientific evidence, both from publications and from health agency recommendations.” The vaccination of minors will take place at fixed health units and the comorbidities that will be taken into account are immunosuppression (cancer, transplantation and HIV), severe chronic lung disease, chronic kidney, liver, or digestive system conditions, neurological and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, genetic abnormalities and teen pregnancy.

Congratulations Mexico. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador commented that President of Ireland Michael Higgins recognized Mexico for its extraordinary heritage, culture, artists and writers. “Yesterday, a video was released of Russian astronauts congratulating us from space, first ministers, presidents, heads of state have done it; it was done by President Biden, of the United States, Pope Francis and now the president of Ireland. We appreciate your message very much,” said López Obrador. “I allow myself to warmly congratulate the people of Mexico on this historic day. It is my wish that the unbreakable ties that unite our nations, based on our history and values ​​and vision for the future that we have in common, continue to deepen, long live Mexico, long live Ireland!” said the President of Ireland.

Conacyt scientists accused. López Obrador said that the scientists and academics of the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) tallied luxury expenses with the budget that the government gave them and that had not been found. “Those of Conacyt had a civil association, a group of researchers, and they went to congresses and had to be paid out of the budget even for their luxuries. As they had much influence, a good grip and good relations with the media, with the organic intelligentsia, it was like blackmail and the funds had to be handed over to them,” said López Obrador. The president added that previous administrations delivered around MX$571 million (US$28 million) to the civil association of researchers of Conacyt between 2002 and 2018. He said that it was a favorite group of the previous regime and since they no longer are indulged by the government, “they feel persecuted.”

Migration in Haiti. López Obrador said that the UN is taking time to intervene in the migration problem in Haiti. He asked that violence be addressed, after the assassination of the Haitian president and the rise of criminal gangs. Violence, he said, is one of the causes that has originated the excessive migration from that country. “Something has to be done; the UN is slowing down here and where are the international human rights organizations? Because it is not time to be turning your back, turning the other way, you have to address problems. We don’t want Mexico to be a camp for migrants.”

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish