- Title: Chile rolls out COVID-19 boosters for Sinovac vaccine recipients
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (AUGUST 11, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF YOUTH ARRIVING FOR BOOSTER DOSES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LA FLORIDA COMMUNE MAYOR, RODOLFO CARTER, SAYING: "What the WHO has said is very reasonable. It does not fully apply to Chile because Chile's vaccination levels are some of the highest worldwide. Therefore, we are vaccinating with a third (dose) those who have already had the two previous (jabs). It is absolutely within the recommendations. Sadly, since there is a shortage (of vaccines) worldwide, Argentina's case with only 50% of the population with one dose and 15% with two doses. They are facing a huge problem with the possibility of the Delta strain coming in, which could happen between September and November. If your elderly population is not vaccinated then the possibility of the mortality rates growing is very high. So, they (Argentina) have a very difficult problem to solve, because they need to keep on vaccinating the younger population, but they need to re-vaccinate the higher-risk population, the elderly." ELDERLY RESIDENT WAITING ELDERLY RESIDENT RECEIVING JAB
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 19:13
- Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus Santiago Sinovac vaccine
- Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- City: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Health/Medicine,South America / Central America
- Reuters ID: LVA003EPU3NLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Chile on Wednesday (August 11) began administering booster shots to those already inoculated with Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine, in a bid to lock in early success following one of the world's fastest mass vaccination drives.
Lines of elderly citizens eager to participate in the campaign began forming at vaccination centres in neighbourhoods across the capital Santiago on a cool mid-winter morning in the southern hemisphere.
Chile's blistering campaign has seen upwards of 67% of its population fully vaccinated, predominantly with Sinovac's CoronaVac. But authorities last week said studies had shown a booster was necessary to shore up immunity.
The South American nation on Wednesday began offering a dose of Oxford's AstraZeneca vaccine to citizens aged 86 and older who received their initial shots before March 31.
Chile joins the United States, Germany, France and Israel in giving the booster shots, despite a plea by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people around the world can get their first shot.
According to the WHO, there wasn't yet sufficient data to support the use of booster shots.
(Production: Jorge Vega, Nina Lopez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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