The National Vaccination Program in Mexico is in trouble due to a lack of financial resources. The Ministry of Finance cut nearly 20 billion pesos from the health sector, which directly affected the purchase of vaccines against influenza and hemorrhagic dengue. With a reduced budget of 5.9 billion pesos for this year, the program faces a shortage of necessary injections for the winter season.
A recently published article highlights the absence of vaccines for this winter. Despite efforts, the previous administration prioritized payments to bondholders of the New International Airport of Mexico City over the acquisition of vaccines crucial for public health. This situation has raised concerns among the population and sector experts.
According to the Mexican Association of Pharmaceutical Innovation Industries, the delay in the authorization of effective vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna has worsened the situation. The lack of promptness in permits from authorities has hindered the assurance of a timely supply of injections before the winter period, leaving the country unprotected.
The arrival of effective vaccines against the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, is estimated for February, when winter will be coming to an end. Meanwhile, the vaccines available in the public sector, coming from Cuba and Russia, are not effective against this strain of the virus. This situation has generated criticisms and calls for attention to the management of the Mexican government.
The black market for vaccines is on the rise due to the shortage of authorized injections. The buying and selling of counterfeit, cloned, or dubious origin medications has alarmed health authorities. The lack of regulation and control in this area poses a risk to public health, jeopardizing the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in the country.
Despite efforts to expedite the authorization and purchase processes for vaccines, ineptitude and budget cuts continue to be obstacles for the National Vaccination Program. The lack of effective injections and the presence of cloned vaccines in the market reflect the crisis facing the health system in Mexico.
