People wearing face masks walk down a street before the start of a mandatory total isolation decreed by the mayor's office, amidst an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota, Colombia January 7, 2021. REUTERS\/Luisa Gonzalez<\/p>\n
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BOGOTA, May 6 (Reuters) - Colombia will offer a second coronavirus booster shot to people aged 50 and over, the government said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Colombia has reported just under 6.1 million confirmed coronavirus infections and 139,809 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.<\/p>\n
The decision on a second booster comes after the Andean country of around 50 million people hit its target of fully vaccinating 70% of its population, the government said.<\/p>\n
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A second booster shot \"will be important to keep protecting ourselves, saving lives, and giving confidence to the population,\" President Ivan Duque said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Second boosters will consist of either a half dose of the Moderna (MRNA.O) vaccine or a full dose of the Pfizer (PFE.N) vaccine, he added.<\/p>\n
Those eligible for the second booster can get it four months after receiving their first, the government said.<\/p>\n
The government in March had started to offer second boosters to those with autoimmune conditions and those who had received organ transplants.<\/p>\n
Almost 11.9 million people have received a first booster shot, according to Health Ministry figures, while just over 19,000 have had a second booster.<\/p>\n
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Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Leslie Adler<\/p>\n
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.<\/p>\n
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Colombia to offer second coronavirus booster shots to over 50s, others - Reuters<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" People wearing face masks walk down a street before the start of a mandatory total isolation decreed by the mayor's office, amidst an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota, Colombia January 7, 2021. Continue reading