Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre said that Panama could be one of the Latin American countries participating in the trials, but first it is important to investigate whether this vaccine will not cause side effects in people, so experts are investigating and gathering information to decide later.

‘We have not yet begun any purchase process. There is a team of Panamanian and Ministry of Health scientists in charge of finding out in different countries what progress is being made with the vaccines,’ he said.

In statements to the press, the Minister said that another group will be responsible for verifying the acquisition of this product through the General Directorate of Purchasing, which will also be responsible for viewing prices and obtaining the vaccine in a transparent way.

Through his Twitter account, Panamanian infectologist Xavier Saez-Llorens said that ‘there are 23 vaccines in clinical trials, some of which are already being studied in Brazil, Chile and Argentina and probably in Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Panama soon, if approved by the ethics committee; these projects are free for participating countries.

Last Thursday, President Laurentino Cortizo announced that Panama is in talks, through the Foreign Ministry, to acquire a future vaccine that is in the clinical trial phase, including the Oxford vaccine and the Modern Laboratory in the United States.

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