Where can bivalent vaccines be placed in Ecuador from today? – Equatorial Metro

In all public health centers in Ecuador (9, MSP area focal points), As of today, July 19, 2023, a bivalent vaccine against Covid-19 is already available, as reported by the Ministry of Health, and the cold chain, storage and distribution have also been ensured.

Why is it necessary?

Bivalent vaccines those that protect the body from two types of antigens. In the case of COVID-19, they are bivalent because they immunize against the original strain and against the omicron variant.

Who are those who can get vaccines?

Health Minister José Ruales stressed in the national media that this dose This will only be for the elderly and people with serious illnesses, as well as for medical personnel who work in the field of respiratory diseases such as pulmonology, intensive care units and emergency care.

MSP announced that it has been applied through the COVAX mechanism to deliver 262,080 doses of Pfizer BioNTech’s bivalent vaccine, with a $3.1 million investment. It was emphasized that they have been extensively tested and approved by global health authorities.

People with serious illnesses, who are they?

MSP advised that adults over 65 years of age and patients with serious illnesses and priority diseases will be vaccinated provided that they have followed the full primary vaccination schedule and two revaccinations, and at least 6 months have passed since the last revaccination.

• Obesity: BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2.
• Chronic cardiovascular diseases: includes heart failure, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, pulmonary hypertension, and arterial hypertension.
• Moderate or severe chronic respiratory disease: such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, and pulmonary hypertension.
• Diabetes Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2.
• Chronic kidney disease: includes people on dialysis.
• Chronic liver diseases: associated with alcohol use, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis of the liver.
• Immunocompromised people: those who have a weakened immune system.
• Transplantation of solid organs or blood stem cells: Includes people on the waiting list.
• Oncological and oncohematological patients: with a recent diagnosis or active disease, i.e. less than 1 year since diagnosis, current treatment or receiving immunosuppressive treatment within the last 12 months, relapse or uncontrolled disease.
• Active TB: new cases or relapses diagnosed within the last 12 months.