Vaccination to Start Soon / AMLO Contacts Joe Biden

Vaccination plan next week. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said the vaccination plan will start on Dec. 22. López-Gatell emphasized that the vaccines are the beginning of a new health campaign and that “the government will not rest until all Mexicans are vaccinated. This vaccination plan starts this year; however, it will take us several months to complete it.”

Government seeks CCE alliance for vaccination campaign. López-Gatell said the government is talking with the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) to involve the private sector in the vaccination campaign. “We are identifying details on how the private sector can collaborate in this campaign. It is essential to emphasize that this alliance does not seek to vaccinate business owners. This is about solidarity and how the private sector can help us to vaccinate its workers," he said.

Mexico could have additional vaccines. Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico will host five Phase III clinical trials related to COVID-19 vaccines and if the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) authorizes them, Mexico could have five additional vaccines. “There are many offers from other companies. The health sector will decide which ones are the most adequate for Mexico and how many doses the country needs,” Ebrard said.

New Hospital in Tlahuac. Director of Health Regulations Ramiro López Elizalde unveiled the new hospital of the Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE), which will be located in Tlahuac. The hospital will be inaugurated on Dec. 19 and will have 400 beds, from which 120 beds will be used to treat patients with COVID-19. López said “this hospital is the most modern in Latin America” and invited healthcare workers to join the new hospital that is ready to treat patients.

AMLO contacted Joe Biden. The president congratulated Joe Biden through a letter, after the US Electoral College confirmed Biden’s victory in the presidential elections. The letter read: “Dear Mr. Biden, I am writing this letter to congratulate you for your victory, which was granted to you by the people and the electoral authorities of the United States of America. Our countries are connected through culture, history, economy, and neighborhood. Because of this, our nations must have good bilateral relations based on collaboration, friendship and respect. We are certain that during your presidency, our countries will continue to apply principles of foreign policy according to non-intervention and self-determination of people.” AMLO added that he wished the best of luck to Americans and the future of both nations.

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish.