MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico’s president said Thursday he plans to give the military a role in distributing the coronavirus vaccine, which he says US President Donald Trump helped get him.
President Andr મેs Manuel Lપેpez Obrador said during his visit to Washington in July he spoke with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and they “helped facilitate Mexico’s consideration and vaccination.”
López Obrador suggested that Mexico might wait until Pfizer’s vaccine is approved by U.S. regulators before it is introduced in Mexico earlier this month.
On Wednesday, Mexico’s health department signed an agreement for 34.4 million doses of that vaccine, and said it expects to receive 250,000 doses in December. Everyone needs two doses.
The president said the government is in discussions with the “army and navy”, and we are defining the entire operation to deliver the vaccine. López Obrador has given the military an unprecedented range of responsibilities in his two years in office, including distributing medical supplies and protecting hospitals.
La Paz Obrador is one of the few world leaders to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.
Mexico has suffered the fourth highest death toll in the world, with more than 107,500 deaths. However, the country conducts very few tests and officials estimate that the actual death toll is probably close to 150,000.
.
