One of the populations most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is children and adolescents with cancer. Due to the total quarantine imposed by the Government at the beginning of the pandemic, patients who were in their homes far from Lima, waiting for their next treatment or appointment, were completely unable to return; while those who were hospitalized or in a temporary shelter, were practically "trapped", waiting for the restrictive measures to be relaxed.

During this time, many children and adolescents stopped receiving the cancer treatment they needed, which, together with the increased risk of contagion of COVID-19 in patients who are typically immunosuppressed, generated fatal consequences. Although the situation has improved over the months and the relaxation of measures, there is still a long way to go to return to a pre-pandemic state.

In this context and almost a year and a half after the start of the pandemic, on June 17, the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (DIGEMID) approved the registration of the vaccine against COVID-19 from the Pfizer Laboratory for its use in children and adolescents from 12 to 17 years old. Although, the Minister of Health Oscar Ugarte indicated that this expansion did not alter the National Vaccination Plan, he specified that it would allow its updating by incorporating children and adolescents suffering from comorbidities, while the rest of this group would most likely be vaccinated in the fourth quarter of the year.

In the Kallpachay project we receive this news with great joy, as we know the difficult daily struggle that cancer patients of this age fight in particular. For this reason, we have been waiting for news in this regard, which finally arrived last week together with the deployment of the massive vaccination campaign called "Vaccination", in which the Ministry of Health confirmed that during the third day of vaccination, on July 24 and 25, the vaccination of children and adolescents with comorbidities will begin.

A battle won, in the long crusade of these little warriors in their fight against cancer.

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