“We are negotiating with Pfizer”: Minsalud

The Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, confirmed this Tuesday that the Colombian government is negotiating with the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, as part of the strategy to obtain 5 million vaccines, through bilateral deals with different companies, which should be available in the first half of 2021.

In statements to various media, the head of the health portfolio, assured that there is already a confidentiality agreement with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and negotiations are underway to acquire some vaccines.

This Monday, the American company, together with the German BioNTech, announced that the vaccine they are developing showed an effectiveness greater than 90% among the participants of their scientific studies, which, the companies assured, are already in phase III, the last stage before requesting the respective certifications.

“It is important to bear in mind that the information refers to effectiveness, it is necessary to know security; that is to say, they do not produce significant secondary effects – Minister Fernando Ruiz explained. What was released were the results of a preliminary study, the complete study has not yet been completed, but, given the special conditions we are in, preliminary results can be given; These results must be reviewed by a panel of scientists, which has already been determined, and finally receive approval from the FDA in the United States, after that we will begin the process with Invima, which will be a quick process, a fast track ”.

The head of the health portfolio recalled that, in addition to the confidentiality agreement with Pfizer, the Colombian government is part of Covax, a coalition of 172 countries, sponsored by the WHO, which created a common fund in order to guarantee the availability of vaccines for poor and emerging nations.

“Colombia adhered to this mechanism and Pfizer has also asked to be part of that mechanism and we hope that around November 20 we will have a notification in this regard.” According to Ruiz, thanks to its participation in Covax, the country has guaranteed 10 million vaccines for the second half of 2021.

The minister explained that, in Colombia, the vaccines will be distributed through the expanded immunization program, led by the national government, with the participation of the health secretariats, and will be applied by the EPS and IPS. “The costs of the vaccine will be covered by the Government through the Fome; what’s more, we already have a commitment to pay for the 10 million vaccines that will be acquired thanks to Covax, and all of them will be applied free of charge.

According to the health minister, the first 15 million vaccines will be distributed among the most vulnerable population: over 60 years, patients with comorbidities and health personnel. “For the general population we will take into account the seroprevalence study that we are conducting with the National Institute of Health”, which seeks to determine the behavior of the virus in the country.

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