The vaccination process against COVID-19 in Puerto Rico is full of gaps

From Tuesday, January 5, the administration of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will begin in Puerto Rico for health workers who received the dose of Pfizer in the week that began on the 14th. of December.

And, in front of the tumult of people that, in past days, has conglomerated in the estates of the coliseito Pedrín Zorrilla, in San Juan – making turn even from the night before, many fear that the same is repeated experience when it is time to apply the second dose.

Two weeks after the arrival of this vaccine in Puerto Rico, there are still gaps to be addressed in this process. The Department of Health ensures that its responsibility is limited to the request, reception and distribution of the product, and that each facility that manages it will ensure its implementation.

Next week, they begin the second phase of vaccination of professionals working in hospital institutions, as they have been vaccinated in the regional center of San Juan would correspond to them in mid-January.

“Each facility does its logistics,” said Undersecretary of Health Iris Cardona yesterday.

The National Guard, in charge of the establishment and operation of regional vaccination centers, has not even been able to coordinate a system of appointments for the administration of the vaccine, as it had promised a few days ago to avoid the long queues that are they have formed the Pedrín Zorrilla Coliseum.

“Still, no (it will be by appointment),” said Luis Orengo, of the Office of Public Affairs of the National Guard, who said that a system of appointments is being coordinated with the College of Physicians Surgeons.

Today, Wednesday, opens the doors of the second regional vaccination center of the National Guard, in the Center of Fine Arts of Caguas, and will attend health professionals in this region who meet there in order of arrival, as in the Pedrín Zorrilla, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm

The goal of the National Guard is to open a total of 11 vaccination centers by mid-January. The next ones will be in Ponce, Arecibo, Mayagüez, Humacao, Fajardo, Aguadilla, Bayamón, Barranquitas and Guayama. According to the military, until yesterday, about 4,400 health professionals had been vaccinated in the regional center of San Juan.

Cardona commented that the conglomerate of health workers who have made long queues at the Pedrín Zorrilla in their eagerness to be vaccinated to decrease with the availability of the vaccine in more places. The Undersecretary of Health said that as of this week, vaccines will be available in multiple health facilities, such as hospitals, primary health centers, diagnostic and treatment centers and primary medical groups.

“The problem was rather access,” said Cardona, who also lamented how in the early days of the opening of the center in the Pedrín Zorrilla many asked to be vaccinated, when it was not up to them in this stage of the process. This phase is intended exclusively for health workers.

Cardona also recalled that the arrival of about 100,000 vaccines was initially expected, and 30,000 were received.

Phase 1-A also covers residents and employees of long-term care homes and intellectual disability centers, who are expected to begin vaccination starting next week.

According to Cardona, more than 35,000 people have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 on the island. As of yesterday, he said, 11 adverse events had been reported, four of which required medical attention, though none of seriousness.

“Guaranteed” dose

On the second dose, the official commented that she is “guaranteed” for everything she already received the first. These people, he said, must go to the same place where they were vaccinated. The second dose of those who received the Pfizer vaccine begins on January 5, while the second dose of Moderna is from January 19.

“Although it is supposed to be put on (the second dose) from 21 (Pfizer’s days) and 28 days (Modern), there is a grace period of a few days before or after, although the recommendation is that the person does so as soon as possible (on the designated date), ”he argued.

The official acknowledged that the process runs more orderly by prior appointments and shifts, such as in hospitals.

“I think we’re starting to understand the process. We didn’t think everyone would come to get vaccinated,” he said.

Phase 1-A is expected to last for four to six weeks and Phase 1-B, for older non-congregated adults and certain front-line workers, to eight to 10 weeks.

“The logistics have not been the best. There was technology to do it in an orderly manner, that they go (to vaccinate) with a number already,” said Dr. Jorge Santana.

The infectologist, who was vaccinated in a structured process for Medical Center employees, has lamented that health professionals and workers in this industry have had to make long queues outside the Pedrín Zorrilla seeking vaccination.

He also commented that he hopes that with the opening of other vaccination centers the process will run more quickly, he noted that there are many left to vaccinate to reach the desired 70% coverage. This equates to 1,890,000 people, considering the vaccine is authorized for people 16 years of age or older.

The president of the College of Surgeons, Víctor Ramos, agreed with Cardona that the process must be run more easily and with more vacancies. The College, he said, will vaccinate doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical technologists, paramedics and respiratory therapists today, Wednesday, at the Mario Quixote Morales Coliseum in Guaynabo. It will also vaccinate health professionals and office staff on Saturday, in Cap Roig and Barceloneta, while on Sunday it will do so in Aibonito and Patilles.

“As long as there are more vaccinations, there will be fewer‘ issues ’,” he concluded, commenting that he is working with the National Guard on a dating platform for regional vaccination centers.