Nicaragua’s Vaccination Program Starts

The voluntary Covid-19 vaccination program started on Wednesday the 3rd of March with the Sputnik V vaccinations from Russia. The Ministry of Health (MINSA) is responsible for administering Nicaragua’s Vaccination Program.

They are starting at the sixteen hospitals in various departments that have dialysis units for patients suffering from chronic renal failure and who are currently undergoing dialysis.

Already they have attended to the Cruz Azul Hospital, Specialized Medical Services (SERMESA), Clínica Médica Previsional Sacuanjoche in Chinandega, Hospital Militar Alejandro Dávila Bolaños, Hospital Salud Integral, Hospital Antonio Lenín Fonseca and the Hospital Monte España.

MINSA announced that the program will be rolled out as more vaccine arrives from the various pledged donations, as well as commercial orders from manufacturers. Any day now the government hopes to announce the arrival in Nicaragua of the Covishield vaccine from India. As more vaccine arrives, the next group will include all high risk and vulnerable patients. This will include those with cancer, heart and lung disease as well as front line healthcare workers.

Quick Facts – Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine

• As Nicaragua’s vaccination program is voluntary, patients are first given an explanation and a verbal set of instructions. They then sign the registration, receive their vaccination and afterwards spend 30 minutes under observation.
• The most important fact is that in order to obtain the 92% protection produced in the vaccine trials, recipients must get their second or “booster dose” twenty-one days after the initial shot. Failing to do so will mean you have a lower level of immunity.
• The minimum age for receiving the vaccine is 18 years old. Vaccine companies are still working on vaccines for minors.
• Other persons who cannot have the vaccine are; pregnant women, nursing mothers and those currently with a fever or who have been diagnosed with a serious infectious disease and who are not fit enough yet to receive the vaccine.
• The vaccine is transported and stored frozen at -20 C. After about 25 of a thawing and rest time, it’s ready to use.
• MINSA report that some recipients may react to the vaccine which is normal and expected. As well as the discomfort of the injection itself, they could notice slight flu symptoms and fever.

Over the years, MINSA has developed a lot of in-house experience with immunization programs. The Sputnik V vaccine is stored and transported in the necessary conditions as well as kept in coolers at various vaccination points. Each vial contains 5 doses so that they can have that many people ready before thawing a new vial.

There is no word yet on if and when foreigners in Nicaragua would be able to receive the vaccination.