Pfizer Vaccine Postponed?/Authorization of New Vaccines

Second Pfizer dose could be postponed. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell announced that today a technical group from the Ministry of Health will meet to analyze the scientific evidence on the application of the second Pfizer dose 45 days after the first dose, rather than 28 days. López-Gatell said the technical advisory group will decide if it is feasible to extend the period between doses and that a delay in the delivery of Pfizer vaccines will be also considered. "We could have new adaptations of the vaccination plan to cover the delay of Pfizer vaccines and expand the coverage of the vaccine. When the arrival of Pfizer doses returns to normal, we will continue with the second application of the vaccine," López-Gatell said. On Jan. 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the possibility of extending the period between doses of the Pfizer vaccine from 28 days to 45 days. According to the WHO, having more days between doses does not affect the efficacy of the antigen or the duration of immunity.

CanSino and Sputnik V vaccines to be authorized in Mexico. Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard announced that the use of CanSino and Sputnik V vaccines will be authorized soon in Mexico. Ebrad said that Russian doses will arrive in the country by the end of January and that during this week, Mexico will receive AstraZeneca’s active ingredient for final packaging and filling. “Mexico has signed contracts with Pfizer, CanSino, AstraZeneca and Biocad to acquire 21,394,650 doses, which will allow the vaccination of 14 million people,” Ebrad said.

Mexico City is flattening its contagion curve. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador highlighted a reduction in COVID-19 infections in Mexico City. "We want to continue with this downward trend. Yesterday, Head of Government Claudia Sheinbaum and our team evaluated how the COVID-19 pandemic is being controlled in the city and we observed a decrease in cases. Hopefully, we will confirm this soon and develop plans to maintain this trend,” the president said. López Obrador also said that Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla and the State of Mexico have registered more cases; however, the president emphasized the government has not been overwhelmed.

Vaccination of teachers in Campeche. López Obrador announced that the federal government will propose to the government of Campeche that teachers and education staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine so classes could restart in February. "We want to vaccinate 20,000 educational workers on the weekend so that in 21 days or 28 days they receive their second dose. If we do, we expect classes in Campeche to begin in the third week of February because the state is in epidemiological green light," López Obrador said.

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish