Federal government announces start of vaccination for adolescents between 15 and 17 years of age

Fabiola Martínez and Roberto Garduño

La Jornada newspaper
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, p. fifteen

The federal government announced the start of anti-Covid vaccination for minors between 15 and 17 years of age without comorbidities.

The measure is additional to the population groups previously opened to receive this protection; teenagers will be able to register from Friday on the site https://mivacuna.salud.gob.mx

The reason for attending this group now is because although children, adolescents and young adults have a markedly lower risk of being complicated by Covid, compared to older adults, for example, a general parameter is the increase in the probability of becoming ill or die the older you are.

In 2020, almost 10,000 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 died; Of that figure, Covid-19 is the cause number seven, with 249 deaths, after congenital malformations, heart disease, malignant tumors, suicide, accidents and assaults.

In the morning press conference in the National Palace, federal officials reported the persistence in the reduction of cases and hospitalization on a general scale, although in the most recent week the drop was less than in previous periods, they warned.

Regarding the application, supply and distribution of vaccines, it was indicated that at the moment 129.8 million vaccines have been applied in the country (out of 164.9 million vials received). By the end of the current year, it is expected to have accumulated 185 million doses, from the first batch obtained on December 23, 2020.

Likewise, it was reported that 84 percent of adults in the country already have a complete scheme.

However, there is disparity because while Mexico City reports 99 percent coverage, Chiapas has 61 percent; Oaxaca, 70; Guerrero, 71, and Veracruz, 73 percent.

Hugo López-Gatell, Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, explained that the national vaccination strategy continues with six objectives: to finish applying second doses in 372 municipalities in 15 states; expand coverage in rural areas; cover all pregnant women; likewise, to children and adolescents with comorbidities (at this point he specified that although it is estimated that there are more than a million people in this situation, only 10 percent have been registered and vaccinated, for which he made a call to attend to receive the biological); minors from 15 to 17 years old without comorbidities, and those who will be 18 years old next year.

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reported that Mexico has obtained 610 fans and more than 10 million vaccines with the United States.

At the trilateral meeting on Thursday, in Washington, they will discuss of regional work for the recognition of all the vaccines against Covid approved by the WHO, as well as the safety of the three countries in terms of health. In addition, the study and development of production, in the three countries, of vaccines against Covid and for other diseases.

Regarding the opening of the border since last November 8, the foreign minister specified that although 25 percent of regular traffic is now registered, it is expected to reach 60 percent by the weekend.