Paraguay closes agreements for coronavirus vaccines

By BKM | Berkemeyer

Paraguay's House of Representatives passed a bill to authorize the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, after the government announced the signing of a contract with the Russian Direct Investment Fund to purchase the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus.

The country will also receive some 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the second half of February through the COVAX program promoted by the World Health Organization, and is currently under negotiations with other companies to acquire more vaccines. The goal is to acquire up to four million doses of COVID-19 in 2021. 

The government says the vaccination plan will prioritize health workers and those over 60 years of age, under a context of increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, with high occupancy in the hospitals and a citizen measure relaxation.