In an interview with La FM, Colombian Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, announced that the country will have access to 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility. It may arrive in Colombia in the second half of 2021, reported La República.

Also, Colombian government has been negotiating with several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and AstraZeneca, which could lead the vaccine to arrive in the country in the first half of 2021. The Minister indicated that before the end of this week an agreement with a pharmaceutical firm may be finalized.

“The arrival of the vaccine will be gradual and it will be delivered first to those with the highest risk of mortality. It will be given to workers in the health sector, to those over 60 years of age, and people with diseases such as diabetes and kidney and heart disease,” he said.

The vaccine application, which is likely to be in two doses, will be done through public and private services. It will be free as part of the government vaccination program.

According to him, Colombia will accept vaccines that not only have the approval of Invima (Colombia’s health and food regulator) but also have the approvals of the authorities of the United States and the European Union.