In a statement to the press, the Secretary of State for the Hospital Area, Leonardo Inocêncio, recalled that the vaccination plan began on March 2 this year, having two stages, the first with the objective of vaccinating 20 percent of the population, namely personnel connected to health, education, seniors over 65 with comorbidities, defense and security forces and authorities in executive function.
In the second stage, it is expected to vaccinate the population between 18 and 39 years old, vendors in popular markets, drivers of public services vehicles, motorcycle taxi drivers and all that will total 29 percent of the population.
Leonardo Inocêncio stressed that people who had the first dose were called to take the second dose of the vaccine, a process that ended this Saturday.
"We inform that we are doing everything to guarantee the second dose to all people and we reiterate that the national vaccination plan has four fundamental vaccines: AstraZenca, Sinopharm, Sputnisk and Pfizer", said the government official, stressing that they have been acquired through Covax initiative, bilateral agreements and grants.
Leonardo Inocêncio said that other initiatives are underway, which he will inform in due time.
"Draw attention to people vaccinated with the vaccine from AstraZeneca, Sinopham, Pfizer, that the second dose is guaranteed and they will catch within the established deadline. As for Sputnik, there is a slight delay, but it will be done in good time, for before 90 days we have the second dose for everyone who has had their first dose," he said.
The Secretary of State for the Hospital Area said that the acquisition of vaccines is being a challenge at an international level, that despite the competitive market, the Angolan authorities are making an effort to guarantee the vaccine for all its citizens.
"We are especially calling for calm at this time, especially for those who have had the first dose of Sputnik's vaccine, as we have already mentioned. We continue to work hard in health diplomacy, to acquire more vaccines for all citizens", he stressed.
The implementation of the vaccination plan took priority in Angola for the most exposed and most at risk people, namely health workers, teachers, armed forces, defense and security and people over 65, with associated comorbidities, a process that was expanded to the 18 provinces of the country.
For three months, vaccines were made available at 175 vaccination posts, of which 45 were high-performance posts, and through 130 advanced teams, who traveled to municipalities and homes for the elderly, hemodialysis centers and to meet people deprived of liberty and with mobility difficulties.
"In this phase, a total of 1,492,548 doses were administered, of which 944,931 were first doses and 547,000 second doses", informed the national director of Public Health, Helga Freitas.
In the health sector, 272,963 people were vaccinated, with the first dose, and 145,024, with the second dose.
In education, 195,264 people benefited from the first dose, and 147,049 workers received the second dose.
Regarding the defense and security forces, 198,277 users were vaccinated with the first dose, and of these, 140,777 people have already received the second dose.
As for the group of people over 65 years of age and with associated comorbidities, 95,973 were vaccinated with the first dose, and of these, 73,705 have already had the second dose.
Helga Freitas informed that AstraZeneca's vaccine stock was used in its entirety and without loss for the first and second doses.
According to the health official, AstraZenca users who received the vaccine after May 24, will have to wait for communication for their second dose, stressing that these people have not yet met the time to make the second dose.
"We are currently administering the second dose of Sinopharm and will start tomorrow with the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine," she added.
About Sputnik, Helga Freitas stressed that, as the period between the first and the second dose is three months, the date for the start of the second dose will be communicated in due course.
"The rigorous way in which we have been managing the scarce vaccine and careful administration have allowed the Ministry of Health to successfully implement the objective of not missing a single dose, which has allowed and will guarantee the country's access to more safe vaccines," he highlighted.
