Mexico: 2.7M U.S. vaccine doses to reach subsequent week

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s prime diplomat mentioned Friday the U.S. will ship 2.7 million doses of unused AstraZeneca vaccine subsequent week, and acknowledged persevering with questions on whether or not Mexico agreed to shut its southern border in alternate.

International Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard mentioned, “There are individuals who ask me ‘what did they get in alternate?’”.

Ebrard prompt that, quite than a quid-pro-quo, Mexico’s want to get extra vaccines occurred to mesh with U.S. considerations, together with an upsurge in migrants reaching the U.S. southern border by Mexico.

“Greater than considering that with every transfer we’re going to have negotiate one thing for one thing else, what we’re doing is constructing a framework for superb medium-term cooperation,” Ebrard mentioned in a video message.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned earlier that “I give particular due to President (Joe) Biden for this,” noting that Mexico has already acquired vaccines from Russia and China.

Ebrard mentioned not less than among the new U.S. doses shall be used as second pictures for aged individuals who have already acquired AstraZeneca vaccines. Whereas the AstraZeneca shot has not but been authorized to be used in the USA, which has a stockpile of, Mexico has already authorized and begun utilizing it.

Officers had mentioned Thursday the U.S. cargo would come with 2.5 million doses.

Mexico has had difficulties getting sufficient vaccines, and has thus far administered solely 5 million doses, roughly equal to 1 dose for 4% of its inhabitants.

Mexico introduced restrictions Thursday on nonessential journey throughout its southern border with Guatemala and Belize “to forestall the unfold of COVID-19.” Ebrard’s division didn’t clarify why the measure was introduced now, greater than a yr after the beginning of the pandemic.

Mexico’s assistant well being secretary, Hugo López-Gatell, mentioned Thursday that the nation’s determination was triggered by the rising variety of migrants getting into from Central America.

“There was a verifiable improve in native inflows, significantly from Central America,” López-Gatell mentioned when requested in regards to the timing of the restrictions.

Mexico and the USA way back imposed related restrictions on Mexico’s northern border. However Mexico had beforehand been unwilling to impose them on the southern border or most flights getting into Mexico.

The restrictions coincide with an enormous uptick within the variety of Central American migrants reaching the usborder by Mexico. The variety of migrants making an attempt to cross the U.S. border has been rising since April, with the 100,441 reported final month the best stage since March 2019.