Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico health authorities have announced the expansion of the booster vaccination program for older adults. In a morning press conference from Zapopan, the president said that older adult residents of Chiapas, Mexico City, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Yucatán will be able to get the third shot.
The Undersecretary of Health, Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, specified that on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the third dose that will be applied to all older adults in the country will be AstraZeneca, regardless of the previous brand of vaccine received.
He specified that older adults wanting to get the third or booster shot must have had their first vaccination scheme completed before June of 2021. People who were vaccinated after the second half of the year, must wait six months before getting the single booster dose.
During the announcement by López-Gatell Ramírez, AMLO, along with nine other older adult government workers, received their booster shots.
He indicated that prior registration for the booster shot is not required, but that residents should present official identification that proves their age at the time of going to the vaccination center.
As the Roadrunner Brigade announces its arrival in the states and municipalities, the places and dates of application will be specified, the undersecretary said.
He explained that in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO vaccination advisory group, the boosters should be directed at vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or those suffering from immunosuppressive diseases.
“Currently, according to the international body, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest reinforcements in a generalized way, that is, to anyone who is healthy and already has a complete scheme,” he said.
He stressed that it is necessary to prioritize the advancement of coverage in people who have not had the first or second vaccine shot.
“We must avoid the use of boosters in a generalized way when a degree of vaccinations has not sufficiently been completed,” he emphasized.