Argentina is temporarily transforming football stadiums into COVID-19 vaccination centres.
Footage filmed on February 9 shows a basketball court inside the stadium used as a vaccination centre.
The facilities of other clubs such as Velez, Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo are set to become non-hospital vaccination posts.
The post in River Plate's stadium is targeting to provide 450 vaccinations per day.
SHOTLIST:
1. Various of River Plate Club posters
2. Various of the River Plate shield
3. Various of people outside the River Plate stadium
4. Various of the vaccination center inside the stadium
5. Various of vaccines arrival
6. Various of vaccination to health workers
7. Various of River Plate Stadium
STORYLINE:
The River Plate football club, one of the most popular in Argentina, lent its facilities so that the Buenos Aires mayor's office can vaccinate health professionals who work independently.
On the first day, 400 doses were applied to the 16 posts installed on the basketball court that works under one of the stands of the “Monumental” stadium.
Located in Núñez, River Plate’s facilities make up one of the 28 Buenos Aires non-hospital posts where health personnel administer vaccinations to citizens.
Around the stadium, the silence of those arriving for their vaccinations and then their departure contrasts with the once-familiar scenes of rowdy fans warming up before matches.
“The idea of clubs participating is a message because they have enormous social representation,” City Hall health official Gabriel Batistela said.
The target is 450 vaccinations a day. Once vaccinated according to each shift, the recipients wait for half an hour in observation cubicles to monitor possible adverse reactions.
In the next stages, the facilities of clubs including Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo, Huracán, Vélez Sarsfield, Racing and Atlanta will all function as non-hospital vaccination posts.
The participation of the clubs “adds a plus to the penetration of the vaccination message,” said Batistela.
Apart from football stadiums, vaccination posts will also be installed at museums, cultural centers, foundations, neighborhood clubs and centers for pensioners, City Hall informed.
Closing in on two million confirmed cases of contagion and with the death toll topping 48,000, the government launched its nationwide voluntary campaign of vaccination on December 29, giving priority to health personnel and those aged over 70.
The only vaccine available to Argentina at the moment is Sputnik V, produced by the Russian lab Gamaleya, whose effectiveness of over 91 percent has just been scientifically established.
Argentina, the first country in Latin America to apply the Russian shot, has so far received 820,000 doses out of the over 19 million contracted for delivery by the end of this month.
Although Argentina was the first country in Latin America to opt for Sputnik V, which would ensure priority in supply, the government has intensified negotiations with China to access more vaccines.
Meanwhile, the first shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine would arrive only in March, which is in the local production phase in partnership with Mexico.
