COVID-19 vaccine in CDMX: why the application of the second dose was delayed in Iztapalapa and Tlalpan

The vaccination campaign in Mexico City suffered a new stumble.

According to the official calendar designed by the capital’s government, this week, the elderly of the mayors of Iztapalapa, Gustavo A. Madero and Tlalpan would receive the second dose. However, this Sunday, April 25, the head of the state executive, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced that they will only be able to provide vaccines to Gustavo A. Madero, and asked the population of the other two demarcations for patience.

“What is happening with the Iztapalapa and Tlalpan mayors, which we had also announced that they would probably start this week? […] In the case of Tlalpan they are about to be sent to us, and the same in the case of Iztapalapa. But until we have them for sure in our cold room, in our cold rooms, [de la Secretaría de Salud capitalina] We are not going to announce it so as not to have an error on the day the vaccination starts, ”he said at a press conference.

According to the head of government, the doses are already assigned and will arrive on time. But some certificates have yet to be approved for distribution.

“There is no problem that the vaccine is applied even two weeks later, because we are within the framework specified by these serums to be able to apply. Then, when the vaccines arrive, we will inform them when it is their turn. We are on time, there is no problem for the following mayors, and of course, we are going to announce it for which day they are due ”.

While the older adults of Tlalpan are responsible for the biological CoronaVac, from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, the residents of Iztapalapa await the second injection of Sputnik V, produced in Russia. Although Claudia Sheinbaum assured that the delay is not worrisome, she acknowledged that she does not know when the serums will arrive.

“The exact day of when they arrive at the City Health Secretariat we do not have with certainty, but the National Vaccination Program has told us that they are yet to come ”, affirmed Claudia Sheinbaum.

Vaccine effectiveness

The vaccination calendar prepared by the Government of Mexico City, established that in these two municipalities the second dose would be applied on the following dates:

* Iztapalapa: April 23-30 (Sputnik V).

* Tlalpan: from April 21 to 28 (Coronavac).

The biologicals did not arrive on the scheduled day, and it seems that the older adults of those two delegations will still have to wait a little longer. This worries the population that wonders how long you can take between doses without the serum losing its effectiveness.

In the case of Sputnik V, the Russian laboratory indicated at first that the injections should be administered with a difference of 21 days, and up to a maximum of 28. Taking into account that the first injection was applied in Iztapalapa between April 2 and 6, that period would be about to beat.

However, at the press conference this morning, Victor Hugo Borja, head of the National Medical Coordination of the Institute of Health for Wellbeing (Insabi), explained that on Saturday, April 24, the Federal Government of Mexico, based on international studies, modified the range of application of the second dose of Sputnik V, which was extended from 21 days to 60. This means that the second dose would reach city hall on time even if it was delayed for another two weeks.

Regarding the Coronavac serum, which was to be administered this week in Tlalpan, clinical studies establish that 28 to 35 days can pass between the two applications. In that demarcation, the first phase took place between March 24 and 30; so the new vaccines should be given between April 28 and May 5.