November 2, 2023: CONAPI updates recommendations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Guatemala, advising the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance to revise and update the objectives, strategies, and goals of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for 2024 and 2025. It suggests estimating vaccine needs, prioritizing high-risk groups such as adults over 50, pregnant women, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised individuals, and healthcare workers. The strategy focuses on improving primary series and booster vaccination coverage for high-priority risk groups by prioritizing vaccine distribution based on geographical incidence, low coverage areas, and following the new WHO roadmap for COVID-19 vaccination. Recommendations include using monovalent, bivalent, or updated monovalent vaccines authorized by the FDA, EMA, and listed under the WHO emergency use authorization. It suggests administering bivalent or monovalent mRNA vaccines interchangeably for primary or booster doses. Additionally, it recommends offering booster doses of bivalent or monovalent XBB 1.5 vaccines to high-risk groups six months after the last dose, irrespective of the number of doses received, emphasizing eligibility for individuals over 50, those with comorbidities, pregnant women, severely immunosuppressed persons, and healthcare workers. Co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in high-risk groups is suggested to enhance benefits, accompanied by an effective communication campaign to promote vaccination adherence.
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