Bolivia and Peru pool efforts to vaccinate Aymara people

Peruvian and Bolivian authorities joined forces Friday to vaccinate the Aymara community in the Andean region that straddles the two countries.

Dozens of people lined up in the Desaguardero international bridge to get the vaccine.

Authorities estimate more than three million Aymara people live in the Andean region, which is shared by Bolivia, Peru and Chile.

Desaguardero, 100 kilometers west of the Bolivian capital La Paz, is an important crossing that has ceased some activities during the past year.

Authorities from both countries are keen to rehabilitate the local economy.

The initiative comes as Peru and Bolivia report a further surge in COVID-19 cases, which authorities believe is due to a new, more contagious variant of the virus.