They attack and retain 11 health workers in Guatemala for distrust of the vaccine

05/10/2021 – 07:50 Updated: 10/05/2021 – 10:24

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The Government of Guatemala reported this Monday that 11 members of its medical staff that vaccinated against covid-19 They were attacked and held for seven hours in a community in the north of the Central American country.

Assaults and retention of medical staff took place in a village in the municipality of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, located in the department of Alta Verapaz, about 150 kilometers north of Guatemala City.

The Government of Alejandro Giammattei explained to journalists that the 11 vaccinators they were rescued the same afternoon this Monday by the security forces after a “dialogue” with community leaders and with “about 500 people” who were in the place.

“People in the community indicated that they were opposed to vaccination after one of the villagers were vaccinated and subsequently suffered side effects of the vaccine, which were interpreted as health problems, “said a press release from the Giammattei government about the incidents.

The residents of the community in Alta Verapaz, called Maguilla, “they stripped vaccinators of their cell phones, punctured the tires of the vehicle in which the entrances and exits “of the village were transported and blocked, until finally release medical personnel.

“The authorities evaluate what happened to take the corresponding actions,” concluded the press release, which recalled that among the medical personnel were “women who were attacked” by the residents.

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A total of 2.5 million Guatemalans have received the complete scheme (two doses) of vaccination by the Ministry of Health, while another 2.1 million people have received at least one dose.

However, with a population of more than 16.3 million inhabitants, Guatemala remains one of the Latin American countries with worst vaccination rates, according to reports from international organizations.

This Monday, the Government of Giammattei reported 20 more deaths from covid-19 and 386 new infections, for which Guatemala adds 13,750 deaths from the disease and 566,636 positive cases, the highest figures in Central America.

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