Panama Will Receive the 40,000 Doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine January 18-25

On January 4, the Minister of External Relations Erika Mouynes announced that some time between January 18 and 25, 2021, Panama will be receiving its first 40,000 doses of the Pfizer manufactured COVID-19 vaccine. Health care professionals and senior citizens will be given priority in the first round of inoculations. Information on the vaccination’s arrival to Bocas del Toro is not yet known at this time.

According to the press conference, there will be a total of 5.5 million dosages for around 3 million Panamanians. The North American multinational Pfizer has promised to deliver 450,000 dosages within the next 90 days, which will be enough to vaccinate at least 250,000 Panamanians to start, according to Itzel de Hewitt, head of the PAI (Expanded Immunization Program). Viceminister of Health Ivette Berrio mentioned during the press conference that the first payment ($6 million) was made on December 28.

The first round of the COVID-19 vaccine is scheduled to arrive some time between January 18 and 25, and the exact date will not be known until 5 days beforehand due to the logistical protocol involved in shipping the vials, according to President Laurentino Cortizo’s office on Twitter.

Published on January 5th by the Ministry of Health were more details on the first 4 phases of the COVID-19 vaccinations. While the press conference it was mentioned that 5.5 million dosages would vaccinate 3 million Panamanians, the 4 phases listed on January 5 indicate plans for about 3 million dosages and less than 2 million people. See image below. Whether or not there are more phases for the remaining dosages and amount of people mentioned in the press conference is not known.

Panamanian citizens can register to be vaccinated as part of the Panama Solidario program here: https://vacunas.panamasolidario.gob.pa/vacunas/