QUITO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador announced Tuesday it will begin mass vaccination against COVID-19 in the second week of July to curb the transmission of the virus.
"The immunization plan is being adjusted these days to start with mass vaccinations by the second week of July," Health Minister Ximena Garzon said in a virtual press conference.
The Ministry of Public Health is coordinating with the Armed Forces and the National Electoral Council to "set up mass vaccination centers to avoid crowds," she said.
President Guillermo Lasso, who took office in late May, has said his government aims to inoculate nine million Ecuadorians during his first 100 days in office to achieve herd immunity.
According to the health ministry, as of June 20, 3,580,667 doses of vaccines had been applied to priority groups, with 75 percent of older adults nationwide vaccinated.
Ecuador has registered 447,176 cases of COVID-19 infection and 15,722 deaths from the disease. Enditem