Uruguay and Paraguay become the first two countries to begin football vaccination against Covid-19, starting next month, against the Copa America. China’s pharmaceutical company Synovac has donated 50,000 vaccines to CONMEBOL. Dose arrived in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, last month, from where it was referred to the continent’s 10 member football associations.
Alejandro Dominguez, president of the governing body of the South American Football CONMEBOL, congratulated the two countries for starting their programs, on Twitter. “We will have a safe Copa America Argentina-Colombia, who always respects health protocols,” said Dominguez, who is based in Paraguay.
The vaccine is given not only to the players of the national team but also to the men who play for the professional and top teams. South American sides are involved in continental club competitions this week and three Colombian sides have changed their “home” games in Paraguay due to civil unrest in their home country.
A source from CONMEBOL told AFP, “Paraguay and Uruguay were the first countries to begin vaccination on Thursday, and then Chile and Ecuador would follow. Three Colombian teams are in Paraguay, were offered the vaccine and accepted it”
Paraguay has also started vaccinating the first division teams, starting with Sportivo Luqueno. The Paraguay Football Association said on its social media accounts, “We started the application of CONMEBOL vaccines to players, referees, technical and logistics staff. Paraguay is the first country in the world to immunize the entire professional football environment. Thanks to the donation of @CONMEBOL and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. we have a safer football “
Iniciamos la aplicación de las vacunas CONMEBOL a jugadores, árbitros, cuerpo técnico y logístico. Paraguay es el primer país del mundo en inmunizar a todo el entorno del fútbol profesional. Gracias a la donación de @CONMEBOL y Sinovac Biotech Ltd. tenemos un fútbol más seguro 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/VuyzjP5Bku
— APF (@APFOficial) May 6, 2021
Uruguay played at the Estadio Centenario National Stadium – the venue of the first World Cup final – at Montevideo, in alphabetical order, meaning that the Boston River was the first club to receive them. Copa America starts in Argentina on 13 June, with the final in Colombia on 10 July.
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