Chile announced this Thursday that it will begin to apply the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine next Monday to immunosuppressed people and from February 7 to those over 55 who have completed six months since their previous injection.
“The new omicron variant is expanding rapidly throughout the world and, although to a much lesser extent, it is also affecting Chile”, the Chilean president indicated in a public appearance, Sebastian Piñera.
After the return of the Christmas holidays, Chile registered 3,134 new cases of COVID-19 this Thursday, the highest number since the beginning of July, although hospital pressure remains very low and there are still more than 250 critical beds available.
Omicron infections are around 700 and 80% correspond to travelers, mostly from the United States, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
“Experience has shown us that the efficacy of vaccines and also of boosters decreases over time and, also, with the appearance of new variants”, warned the conservative president.
According Pinera, who will end his second non-consecutive term on March 11, “A person without full protection is six times more likely to be infected and 20 times more likely to be hospitalized in intensive care than a person with a booster dose.”
Chile, where the pandemic has caused 1.8 million infections and more than 39,200 deaths, has carried out one of the most successful inoculation campaigns in the world, with more than 92% of the population (19 million inhabitants) with a scheme complete vaccination of two doses or single dose and with more than 11.3 million booster doses administered.
The most used vaccine is CoronaVac, from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, although Pfizer / BioNtech, AstraZeneca and Cansino are also administered to a lesser extent.
However, there are still 1.6 million people who have not taken the third dose and who suffer mobility restrictions since last January 1, among which the prohibition to access the interior of bars and restaurants stands out.
“I want to make a new, demanding and urgent appeal to the laggards, who are still many and who at this point are very stubborn, to get vaccinated now”, Piñera urged.
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