‘We are in constant conversations and are going to have a high-level meeting to learn a little more about what is happening, they have already started the vaccination and I hope that in May they will have a significant number of immunized people, who will contribute to the studies,’ the official asserted.

They would be ready in June or July and once they are ready for export, we could make the acquisition depending on the results of phase III, Blanco remarked.

The Government has been in talks with pharmaceutical companies manufacturing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, he said, adding that they are close to an agreement with China for the provision of Sinovac in May, as well as working with India to acquire Covaxin.

Bolivia began vaccination against Covid-19 in the cities in early February, after acquiring 20,000 doses of Sputnik V, and planned its gradual expansion to rural areas.

President Luis Arce, however, was forced to instruct the Health Ministry to proceed with the immunization of all border populations, especially the most exposed people in areas bordering Brazil.

The strategy is progressing favorably in the territory and 447,417 people had been vaccinated until last Monday, receiving one or two doses of Sputnik V and Sinopharm, according to official statistics.

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