Covid-19 manufacturing roundup: Freezer kits to store vaccines delivered to Venezuela; UN chief weighs in on IP debate
In an effort to support Venezuela’s vaccination efforts, the first 50 of 100 freezer kits were delivered to the country Wednesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund told Reuters.
Health minister Carlos Alvarado said earlier this week that the country has received 1.48 million vaccine doses between China’s Sinopharm and the Russian Sputnik V. Both vaccines require 2 shots.
The freezers are vital to the storage of vaccines, particularly because the country’s hospital network often lacks electricity. Venezuela has reported 201,807 infections and 2,208 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic started last March, but academics say the number of cases and death toll is much higher.
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