Challenges in the COVID-19 vaccination era: Prioritization of vaccines among essential workers in Mexico

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic gave rise to a massive global health concern that has placed an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, education and economy. The recent vaccine roll-out gave humanity a glimpse of hope. However, more than 50% of the vaccine supply has been acquired by high-income countries, forcing low- and middle-income countries to prioritize who should be vaccinated. In Mexico, the first phase of the vaccination program prioritized healthcare personnel working in front-line COVID-19 public institutions. The second phase was planned for the remaining healthcare workers attending at both COVID and non-COVID areas. The government, however, aiming to reopen schools, decided to vaccinate teachers instead. This raised several concerns, since Mexico tops the ranking of deaths among healthcare workers due to COVID-19 worldwide. Furthermore, the possible framing of vaccines as a political tool has caused commotion among the Mexican people and media, especially since 2021 is the Midterm Election year in Mexico, and the Teachers' Union has historically played an essential role in this matter. Therefore, it is relevant to share the vaccination experience in resource-constrained settings to provide help and advice to reach an optimal strategy and deflate this pandemic.