File Photo: Xinhua

The Chinese company Sinovac Biotech has signed an agreement with the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to provide them with 50,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine. The move is an important support for the Copa América 2021 that will kick off in June while no other confederation in the world has managed to start a massive vaccination program. 

The president of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, has officially announced that the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech Ltd will donate to the institution 50,000 doses of its vaccine against COVID-19 as a clear and positive support for South American football during the pandemic, read a statement from Sinovac.

South America is one of the regions most affected by COVID-19, with Brazil reporting the third highest number of infections in the world, close to 14 million as of Tuesday, following the US and India.   

Immunization will be focused on the main male and female South American professional football teams in the first category tournaments,  according to CONMEBOL.

No other confederation in the world has so far managed to have the shots to start a massive vaccination process, CONMEBOL said. 

"This is the best news that the South American football family has received. We owe our best efforts to CONMEBOL. It is a gigantic step forward to beat the COVID-19 pandemic," Domínguez said, according to the Sinovac statement. 

"We expect to convey to the world the confidence to fight against the pandemic through vaccination with the Copa America. As the vaccine brings hope, we sincerely hope everyone to come out of the threat from the pandemic and restart our beloved activities." 

Originally scheduled for 2020, the 47th edition of the Copa America, to be hosted in Argentina and Colombia,  was postponed  because of COVID-19 and will be played from June 13 to July 10, 2021.

Other football tournaments have also been postponed due to the pandemic like  the UEFA European Football Championship and the Africa Cup of Nations.