COVID-19 vaccines for residents in their 50s to begin as early as May

Centro residents at the La Plancha train shed wait for their COVID-19 vaccinations. Photo: Facebook

Vaccinations for Yucatán residents between 50 and 59 could begin next month. 

State authorities say that the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign for people 60 and over is going very well, and should wrap up before the end of the month. Widespread accounts online have been overall favorable, with even foreign residents expressing relief that the process was quick and orderly.

Next up will be residents a decade younger.

“We are expecting to finish vaccinating seniors by the end of the month. If we continue to receive doses as expected we should be able to start vaccinating residents of Yucatán between the ages of 50 and 59 by May,” said Yucatán Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal. 

The governor also noted that the second dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine can be applied up to 80 days after the first inoculation. 

Authorities are eager to vaccinate Yucatán’s population as quickly as possible. In part, the urgency is to prevent the spread of the much more aggressive “British variant,” which has now been detected in Yucatán.

Earlier: People in Mérida celebrate on social media after getting COVID-19 vaccine

The British COVID-19 variant was first identified in the United Kingdom and is associated with an estimated 64% higher risk of death, suggests new research published in the medical journal BMJ. 

The COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca claims that after the first inoculation the vaccine has demonstrated an average efficacy of 76%. This protection increases to 82% after the second dose. 

The World Health Organization considers individuals to be fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the vaccine. 

The governor emphasized the importance of using facemasks and respecting social distancing protocols, even after having received the vaccine. 

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