Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

As Mexico begins expanding its administration of vaccines against covid-19 in its population aged from 50 to 59, a study from Free University of Berlin mathematician Raúl Rojas found that Mexico has the second-worst strategy in the world against coronavirus, only behind Peru. 

The country has seen over 444,000 excess deaths than anticipated throughout the pandemic, according to recently updated figures from the Public Health Secretariat, far above the amount reported by the government at press conferences of 215,000 deaths, due to Mexico’s policy of only considering tested deaths as coronavirus-related mortalities, leaving all those who died at home without recognition.

Rojas used population pyramids to determine Mexico’s standing compared to other countries, which helps calculate the expected amount of deaths within an examined period.

Another harrowing statistic from Rojas’ study shows that the life expectancy in Mexico decreased by 10 years, from 75 to 65, all over the course of the past year.

Mexico had 444,000 excess deaths in the period from April 2020 to February 2011, where there were also 638,000 expected deaths, making the country’s excess mortality rate 69.6 percent.

Therefore, for every 100 people that were anticipated to die in Mexico during the past year, almost 70 additional people unexpectedly passed away.

In comparison, the only country (with a population over 10 million) surpassing Mexico’s excess mortality rate was Peru, with a rate of 71.8 percent, with Ecuador lagging behind at 65.3 percent.

The only country (with a population over 10 million) surpassing Mexico’s excess mortality rate was Peru, with a rate of 71.8 percent.

The next closest mortality rate was Brazil, at 27.9 percent, a remarkable 43.9 percent lower than Mexico’s rate, though Rojas pointed out that Brazil may have not publicly provided the most reliable data.

Meanwhile, most European countries and the United States hover at excess mortality rates of about 20 percent, while countries like New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan and China actually had deficit mortality rates, meaning fewer mortalities on average in a year, due to their quick health measures implemented to fight the coronavirus at the start of the pandemic.

Another harrowing statistic from Rojas’ study shows that the life expectancy in Mexico decreased by 10 years, from 75 to 65, all over the course of the past year.

Quick vaccination practices have also saved many countries, like the United States, from experiencing further deaths than Mexico has. Now that Mexico is expanding the age range for its inoculation process, hopefully many more lives will be saved.

Registration for the vaccination of Mexico’s population between the ages 50 and 59 will start on Wednesday, April 28, on the government’s online registration platform, and the inoculation will commence during the first week of May.

Users will need to provide their CURP, municipality and state of residence, telephone and email contacts, and optionally provide zip code.

…April 28, 2021