Spain Secures 10 Million Pfizer Vaccine Doses for Vaccination by Early Next Year

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Spain announced that it has secured 20 million doses of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine developed by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech.

On the 10th (local time), Salvador Illa, Minister of Health, stated in an interview with the state broadcaster TVE that they have secured enough doses to vaccinate 10 million people and plan to receive them early next year.

Minister Illa emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccination will be free of charge and that conditions will be arranged to allow sufficient people to be vaccinated by April to May next year.

Since last month, Spain has been reporting 10,000 to 20,000 new COVID-19 cases daily. As of the 10th, the cumulative confirmed cases in Spain stand at 1,426,602, with a total of 39,345 deaths.

The Spanish central government declared a state of emergency on the 25th of last month, establishing legal grounds for local governments to impose nighttime curfews or restrict movement. The government can maintain the state of emergency until May next year.

Accordingly, autonomous communities have imposed curfews from 10 PM to midnight until 5 to 6 AM the following day. However, as there has been no noticeable effect, local governments are introducing additional measures.

Andalusia has decided to close non-essential businesses after 6 PM, and Catalonia and Castilla y Le?n have decided to close hotels, according to the daily newspaper El Pa?s.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.