The director of the Expanded Program of Immunization (PAI), Aída Lucía Vargas complained that citizens of countries that do not have yellow fever vaccines are now coming here to get vaccinated. She says these people are depleting stocks contemplated for regular local demand, as reported in Listin Diario.
She said there has been a notorious increase in Haitians and Venezuelans requesting yellow fever vaccines at Dominican vaccination centers. The vaccines are required to travel to Brazil and Chile, destinations popular with these populations. Many other countries abroad demand vaccinations for entry.
“Unfortunately, in Haiti there are no vaccine stocks against yellow fever; in Venezuela there is neither vaccine against yellow fever. What are the Haitian nationals who travel a lot to Brazil and Chile doing? They come here to get vaccinated,” Vargas said. She said the demand by Venezuelans and Haitians is now reaching 600 doses.
She told the press that she and the other authorities will meet to analyze what the country’s position should be regarding the new situation based on the international health regulations.
Vargas said that on Wednesday, 26 October 2022 alone, 123 people were vaccinated out of 150 who requested the vaccine. She said 600 doses are delivered per day. She said that the daily increase is 150 to 200 people above the established number.
“We are burdened as a country, when people from other countries that do not have vaccines come here to get vaccinated,” she said, as reported in a release by the Ministry of Public Health.
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Listin Diario
27 October 2022