- Title: Chile rolls out COVID-19 boosters for Sinovac vaccine recipients
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (AUGUST 11, 2021) (REUTERS) CHILEANS OUTSIDE LA FLORIDA COMMUNE VACCINATION STATION SIGN READING (Spanish): "Booster dose entrance" VARIOUS OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS ENTERING TO RECEIVE THIRD JAB ELDERLY SITTING INSIDE STATION, WAITING FOR JAB (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LA FLORIDA COMMUNE MAYOR, RODOLFO CARTER, SAYING: "They arrived very early, like on an election day, very well dressed, very happy. I think this is a great sign of hope as Spring approaches. These people who have been under lockdown for over a year already have a herd immunity that will allow them to have even more freedom everyday and a better life." ELDERLY RESIDENT WAVING AND SHOWING VACCINATION CARD ELDERLY RESIDENT ON WHEELCHAIR BEING ROLLED IN TO VACCINATION AREA VARIOUS OF ELDERLY WAITING OUTSIDE VACCINATION CUBICLES ELDERLY IN WAITING AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 90-YEAR-OLD CHILEAN, OMAR SALAZAR, SAYING: "I think it will help me live a little longer. We will continue the same as before with the mask and [handwashing] anyway." ELDERLY RESIDENT IN VACCINATION CUBICLE HEALTH WORKER PREPARING VACCINE JAB HEALTH WORKER ADMINISTERING VACCINE JAB (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 88-YEAR-OLD CHILEAN, MARIA ELENA OLGUIN, SAYING: "Well, it's good (the booster vaccine process) because this way one can live more. I have all the vaccines and a pacemaker as well. So thank God everything is all right, may God help everyone." VARIOUS OF ELDERLY RECEIVING JABS
- 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: LVA001EPU3NLZ
- 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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