Colombia Ready to Rollout COVID-19 Vaccine Once Doses Arrive in the Country
A health worker collects a swab sample for a COVID-19 test from a woman during a total lockdown amid the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic on January 16, 2021 in Bogota, Colombia. The second wave of COVID-19 has put Bogota in lockdown for the weekend (Friday 15 8:00 pm to Monday 18 8:00 am). Afterwards the lockdown will continue to be regionalized according to contagion numbers. Meanwhile the city hospitals are at full capacity and emergency tents have been set up to care for non-covid related patients. Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images

Colombia's Ministry of Health officials said that they are ready to distribute millions of COVID-19 vaccines once the shots arrive in the country.

A temperature-controlled warehouse has been shown publicly in Bogota, which can house up to 50 million vaccine doses.

The health officials also displayed brand new freezers that can keep vaccines at ultracold temperatures of -80 degrees Celsius, according to an Associated Press report.

The Ministry of Health says similar warehouses have been installed at provincial capitals to ensure that vaccines will not be spoiled as they travel through the country.

Over 3,000 portable containers will be used to keep the vaccines cold as they are being distributed to remote towns and villages.

Gerson Bermont, a Ministry of Health official, said that they are logistically prepared.

"We will take the vaccine to the farthest village and the last health post in Colombia," Bermont was quoted on a report.

Related story: COVID-19 Vaccine Begins To Rollout in Latin American Countries

Colombia's Vaccination Program

Ministry of Health said last month that the country will receive its first batch of 1.7 million COVID-19 Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in February, according to Anadolu Agency report.

Healthcare workers and people over 80 years old will be the prioritized group to get the vaccine.

This will be followed by a group of individuals aged between 60 and 79 years of age. People with pre-existing conditions, such as hypertension, HIV, and diabetes will also be part of the priority group that will get the COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Colombians will not be able to choose the brand of vaccine they will receive, according to Health Minister Fernando Ruiz. Ruiz said that people will be vaccinated as the vaccines arrive in the country.

Colombia had vaccine supply deals with drug-making companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and the COVAX mechanism.

Pfizer and AstraZeneca will provide 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to President Ivan Duque.

Colombia is also set to receive 20 million doses through the COVAX mechanism. In total, the 40 million doses will cover 20 million people.

Venezuelan Refugees Excluded

However, Venezuelan immigrants face a problem as Colombia will refuse to vaccinate the refugees within its borders.

Duque said on Monday that Venezuelans with dual nationality or formal migratory status will have access to a vaccine once it is readily available, according to The Guardian report.

Migration authorities said that Colombia currently holds 1.7 million Venezuelans who fled their country due to political repression, economic ruins, and rampant food and medicine shortages.

Out of those numbers, only about 45 percent have a formal status. Hundreds more cross the border unofficially every day.

Duque said that the decision was made to prioritize Colombians and avoid a surge on the border.

"We would have calls to stampede the border as everyone crosses asking for a vaccine," Duque was quoted on a report. Duque's decision caused criticisms among the migrant rights group.

Juan Viloria, a Venezuelan doctor in Colombia said that now is the time to show solidarity. Viloria added that vaccinating migrants and refugees costs less than their hospitalization and intensive care unit.

Viloria is also the coordinator for the migrant rights group Coalition for Venezuela.