When and how will Mexico launch COVID-19 vaccinations?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, the Mexican government plans to start vaccinating its population against COVID-19 at the end of the third week of December. This long-awaited scheme becomes particularly crucial as the country has reported at least 1.3 million confirmed infections and 122,691 deaths.
In this Pacific Prime Latin America article, we will go through the details of the mass vaccination process.
COVID-19 vaccines
So far 14 vaccine candidates have reached the final stage of testing, with the following trio of vaccines making the greatest progress:
Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine
The biomedicine giant published its first results in November, which showed up to 95% efficacy rate when given in two doses and three weeks apart. However, the vaccine must be kept at a temperature of around -70°C, which means that it will require special storage and transportation arrangements.
The UK government approved the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use in the country on 2 December.
Moderna vaccine
Moderna uses the same approach as the Pfizer vaccine and is said to have 94.5% efficacy rate when given in two doses, and four weeks apart. Not only does it have a higher efficacy rate than the Pfizer counterpart, but it is also easier to store as it can stay stable at -20°C for up to six months.
Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine
Trials show that the Oxford vaccine offers up to 70% – 90% protection against COVID-19, triggering especially strong immune response among the elderly. This is the easiest vaccine to distribute among the trio as it does not have to be stored at a particular temperature.
The Mexican National Vaccination Policy Against Coronavirus
Who can get vaccinated?
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the vaccines will be “universal, free, and also voluntary”. Having said that, he hopes the entire country will be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
Healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses, as well as patients suffering from some comorbidity, and elders aged over 60 will be the first to receive the vaccine. It is estimated that they would be vaccinated between December 2020 and February 2021.
Adults aged over 50 to 59 will be vaccinated between April and May 2021. Adults between 40 and 49 years old would be immunized between May and June 2021. And finally, those under 40 years old would be the last to receive the vaccine, from June 2021 to March 2022.
What coronavirus vaccines will be used in Mexico?
The Mexican government is still deciding between Oxford, CanSino, Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines. Aside from a contract with Pfizer to purchase more than 34 million doses, the government plans to sign a deal to purchase 35 million doses of the CanSino vaccine from China.
The CanSino and Pfizer vaccines could be available as early as December, while AstraZeneca’s was seen coming onstream from March next year.
How many vaccines will be administered in December?
It is estimated that there will be less than 250,000 injections in December, partly because the vaccine must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as well as the local health regulatory agency. After arriving in Mexico, the army will distribute them to vaccination sites, initially in Mexico City and the northern border state of Coahuila.
Secure health insurance with the help of industry professionals
The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the importance of comprehensive medical insurance coverages. This is especially true if you are an expat residing in Mexico or need to travel across different countries regularly.
However, there are so many things you’ll need to consider when comparing health insurance options on the market. For example, everything from premiums, exclusions, waiting periods, to excesses and coverage limits. If you are not familiar with insurance jargon in the first place, you may have to spend hours or even days reading through insurance terms and conditions.
Luckily, global health insurance broker Pacific Prime Latin America is here to help. Whether you’re looking for group health insurance, corporate insurance, or individual insurance, our reliable team of experts can help you find the best plan for your needs and budget.
Contact us to receive expert advice or a no-obligation quote and plan comparison today.
His expertise encompasses a broad range of areas including international health insurance, employee benefits solutions, motor insurance, life insurance, and various other forms of general insurance. This breadth of knowledge enables him to distill an array of complex insurance concepts into a series of progressive, easily understandable articles.
Anthony earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lingnan University, majoring in Translation and minoring in English. He also studied at West Virginia University in the United States as an exchange student.
When he’s not working, Anthony can typically be found on the badminton court, in the gym, or at the theatre.
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