Lima, February 7 (RHC)-- The COVID-19 Vaccination Plan in Peru will begin this week with the administration of the first dose of the Sinophar vaccine to the president of the Latin American country, Francisco Sagasti.

When it was confirmed this Sunday that the nation would receive the first delivery of 300,000 doses against the disease, the Minister of Health, Pilar Mazzetti, announced that Sagasti has to be vaccinated as a "symbol."

According to the health minister, the president wanted to be vaccinated last, but the proposal was rejected. "He has to get vaccinated before any of us and then all the rest," said Mazzetti.  

According to the plan presented by the Government of Peru, the Chinese vaccine will first be applied to healthcare personnel and will be followed by people from the Armed Forces and the Police.  Then, in a second and third stage, it is planned to vaccinate people over 60 years of age and then those between 18 and 59 years of age.

Peruvians expect to receive over the following months about one million doses which were agreed with the Chinese laboratory Sinopharm.  As of Saturday, the Ministry of Health has reported 4,768 new COVID-19 infections and 188 deaths in the last 24 hours alone.

In global numbers, positive cases amount to 1,180,478 and deaths to 42,121. 13,086 people are currently hospitalized due to the disease.