The Secretary of the Department of Health (DS), Carlos Mellado López, today signed the Administrative Decree 2021-493 defining the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment, the public transport sector, air transport and ocean freight. This sector is provided in an orderly and coordinated manner by the Vaccination Program and not in the vaccination centers.
Specifically, it will start with those who work in the production, distribution and, exclusively, employees in the supermarket sales chain. Within the food industry it includes; farmers, poultry farmers, beekeepers, supermarkets and food distributors.
“We continue to accelerate the inoculation process, with the arrival of 100,000 weekly vaccines, expanding the sectors under Phase 1B we are in. These new groups will be specifically coordinated by the DS Vaccination Program, as we continue to serve the priority population, which is the over 50s with chronic conditions and older adults over 60, they should continue to be cared for at vaccination events. in the municipalities and in the vaccination centers of our providers, ”said the secretary.
Mellado López stated: “Since February 2, we have integrated phase 1B, giving priority to the elderly. However, there are many groups at this stage that we need to attend and we will do it little by little. Therefore, today we are making way for the next priority group by following the guidelines set by the CDC. This group from the food and medical equipment industry reaches an estimated 70,000 people ”.
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The DS started talks with the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution (MIDA) to join forces and be part of the vaccination in their population group.
On the other hand, the faculty of the Universities belonging to the education sector that started in February will also be integrated. This effort will be carried out following an agreement with the Central University of the Caribbean at Bayamón; the School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Mayagüez Campus and Medical Sciences Campus; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine; Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo; and the Inter-American University in the Barranquitas and Guayama campuses.
Likewise, the vaccination of the public transport, air transport and ocean freight sector, also belonging to phase 1B, started in a coordinated and orderly manner. The first to be vaccinated among this group were the carriers of the “Call and Travel” program, under the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA).
The Minister of Health recalled that “people over 50 with chronic conditions and adults over 60 can request their vaccination appointment through the portal www.protegetevacunate.com. The portal only requires a valid identification number and year of birth. Once the system validates the information, it gives you the location of the various coordination centers to coordinate your appointment. The person can choose the center that best suits them.