Pfizer's Antiviral Pill/Booster Shot for Educational Staff
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Pfizer's Antiviral Pill/Booster Shot for Educational Staff

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Paloma Duran By Paloma Duran | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Tue, 01/04/2022 - 10:44

Mexico will receive donation of Moderna vaccines. Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard announced that the country will receive 2.7 million doses of the Moderna vaccine in the next few days. In addition, Ebrard highlighted that it is the first donation from a US company that Mexico will receive. “We are grateful to Moderna for this donation that is significant for us. This week, we will reach 202 million doses received. So far, four contracts have been concluded but we are going to receive this donation and we still have a reserve from COVAX. "

The Ministry of Health announced that the country ended the year with 148,938,454 million vaccines administered to 81,916,351 million people. Of those vaccinated, 72.8 million have the full vaccination scheme, while 9 million people have received the first dose. Previously, the Ministry of Health said that the country has enough vaccines to protect the population from the fourth wave of COVID-19, which has seen an increase in the number of positive cases but not hospitalizations or deaths.

The administration of the booster shot for educational staff will begin on Saturday. Minister of Health Jorge Alcocer announced that the booster vaccination of educational personnel will begin on Saturday. In addition, Alcocer stressed that Moderna doses will be used for the booster vaccination, which are expected to immunize 2.7 million people. “The administration of the booster shot to educational staff begins on Saturday, Jan. 8.  The vaccination will begin in 16 entities with a first shipment of 1.27 million doses of Moderna and another that will arrive five days later with the doses for the 16 remaining entities.”

The Ministry of Public Education has not announced which 16 entities would begin vaccinating educational personnel. However, the ministry said it is working on logistics to ensure a good supply to all states and avoid wasting vaccines.

Pfizer's antiviral pill is being analyzed by Mexican health authorities. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that the Ministry of Health is already evaluating the acquisition of Pfizer's antiviral pill, which has shown positive results in people infected by COVID-19. “Yesterday, we talked about this Pfizer drug and Dr. Reyes Terán gave his favorable opinion for it to be evaluated and, if possible, acquired. We talked about the approval of this drug but it is the health officials who will decide.”

On Dec. 22, the US authorized the use of Pfizer's antiviral pill and recommended its use for those infected, especially those who are not hospitalized. The Pfizer pill is the second of its kind after the Merck pill. The pill has been shown to reduce hospital risk and death by 89 percent in high-risk adults.

AMLO: Universities must open again. López Obrador called on students and universities to return to face-to-face classes because “some are avoiding it and we have to go back. Studies are a priority.” Regarding concerns about contagion, López Obrador said that security measures have been implemented in schools. “We have to continue with face-to-face classes, that is why I call on universities again. Many do not want to go back to face-to-face classes, but it is time.”

Last week, the Ministry of Education announced that on Jan. 3, 2022, all students could return to face-to-face classes safely and in compliance with health recommendations. However, not all states returned to face-to-face classes. Among them are Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas and Yucatan.

  Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish

Photo by:   Gobierno de México

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