RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the first half of the year, Argentina prioritized vaccinating the largest number of people with the first dose and is now trying to accelerate the administration of the second dose.
- Nearly 59% of the population has received at least the first dose (26.4 million people);
- And 21% are fully vaccinated (9.3 million);
- In Brazil, 52% have received the first dose, and 22% are fully vaccinated.
MORE VACCINES IN ARGENTINA
The Russian Sovereign Investment Fund, which financed the production of the vaccine, said in a statement that an additional three million doses of Sputnik V would be distributed in Argentina in August.
“The Sputnik V vaccine is excellent. The results in terms of effectiveness against the delta variant are very positive: 83% of infections and almost 95% of hospitalizations are effectively controlled,” Health Minister Carla Vizzotti told the press.
Vizzotti assured that Argentina “will not suspend any contract with any laboratory.” Instead, “we will strive to get as many doses as possible as soon as possible,” she said.
Sputnik V was the first vaccine against Covid-19 to arrive in Argentina in December 2020. President Alberto Fernandez himself was vaccinated with Sputnik V.
Eight months later, however, there were delays in the delivery of the second dose, prompting the Argentine government to consider canceling the contract and delaying vaccination progress in the country.