With one of the most successful and praised vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 in the world, Chile today reaches 86.3% of the target population with one dose and 79.2% with two injections. Considered "the country that has best managed the pandemic and the vaccination process in Latin America", according to the recent study published by the international consulting firm Ipsos, here are the data that support the successful race against the pandemic in Chile.
Since the mass vaccination process began in Chile on February 3, 2021 to date, 86.3% of the defined target population has already received their first dose of vaccine against COVID-19 (13,118,877 people) and 79.2% have already completed their vaccination (12,038,580 people), a group that can now access the Mobility Pass that gives more freedoms to its carriers.
More than 24 million doses have been administered throughout Chile, including the most remote islands and the Antarctic territory, in a process that is voluntary and free of charge. Last Wednesday, June 23, the country achieved the goal of reaching 80% of the target population with the first dose, which places it among the countries with the best vaccination rates in the world.
Chile is one of the few countries in the world that is already vaccinating minors after having prioritized the elderly and the most vulnerable groups, and young people as young as 14 years of age can now be vaccinated.
The country started working in May 2020 to have a safe, effective vaccine in adequate quantities for the Chilean population. The keys to the successful mass vaccination plan in Chile have been: early negotiation with various laboratories, the availability of clinical trials in Chile to ensure doses, a solid health network throughout the territory, coordination between the Ministry of Health and the municipalities, and experience in mass vaccination campaigns.
- Decrease in new cases
On Tuesday, July 20, the Ministry of Health reported the lowest number of new infections since November last year. The 753 new cases reported today, Tuesday, July 27, are part of a downward trend that has been observed for more than 14 days with less than 40% of new infections .
The vaccine and people's efforts to maintain self-care measures have contributed to this considerable drop in new infections.
- Decreased positivity
The drop in PCR case positivity continues. Chile has a PCR case positivity rate below 3%, reaching 2.17% nationally today, Tuesday, July 27th.
The country managed to develop a network of laboratories for the analysis of PCR tests, which analyzed more than 75,000 tests in one day.
- Decrease of patients in ICU
Chile has not experienced the current improvement in bed occupancy levels since December 2020. This, thanks to a great public-private integration in the Health Care Network that has allowed the country to go from 1,229 ventilated beds in March 2020 in the country, to 4,507 in June this year, achieving an increase of 266% in the Integrated Network. Occupancy at national level is 87%, which means that there are 507 critical beds available for patients who require them, regardless of the region where they are located.
As of today, they are admitted to the ICUICU, on average, 81 people per day, 63 fewer than in the first wave and 156 fewer than in the second wave.
- Increased traceability and close contact detection
The traceability of close contacts increased to 3.2 at the national level. Coquimbo (5.1), Antofagasta (4.3), Biobío and La Araucanía (4.0) show the best figures. This places Chile above countries such as New Zealand (2.6) or England (1.9). While Germany does not report this indicator publicly.
- Massive arrival of vaccines
On Wednesday, July 21, the Institute of Public Health (ISP) approved the Russian vaccine Sputnik V (for those over 18 years of age), which will be added to the existing portfolio of vaccines in Chile: Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Cansino and Janssen. Chile has six vaccines licensed to combat COVID-19.
On Thursday, July 22, 207,090 new doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were received. This shipment exceeds the 27,270,000 vaccines against COVID-19 that have entered Chile.
The government maintains agreements and contracts with different laboratories to continue ensuring the arrival of vaccines to the country . Among them are: Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, CanSino (Saval), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), and the Russian vaccine recently approved by the Public Health Institute, Sputnik V. This pool of vaccines from different pharmaceutical companies makes it possible to ensure more than 35 million doses for the country.
| Total COVID-19 vaccines received in Chile: | |
| Laboratory | Quantity |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | 6.309.030 |
| AstraZeneca (*) | 1.713.600 |
| Sinovac | 18.671.476 |
| CanSino | 575.908 |
| Total as of 07/22/21 | 27.270.014 |
(*) Through Covax, 489,600, and through direct purchase by AstraZeneca, 1,224,000.
Upcoming vaccine receptions in Chile:
Pfizer:
- Wednesday 07/28: 299 thousand
- Week of 08/02/08: 281 thousand
- Week of 09/08: 201 thousand
- Week of 08/16: 217 thousand
Sinovac:
- 1,000,000 doses will arrive in the next few days.
AstraZeneca:
- Week of 07/28: 204 thousand.
- Local vaccine production
Chile could resume local vaccine production, thanks to the interest of the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech in setting up a production plant in the country. This would enable Chinese scientists to work together with national researchers in the development of vaccines.
- Step by step plan, we take care of ourselves
In July 2020, the Chilean Government announced the 'Step by Step Plan, we take care of ourselves', as part of the gradual strategy of deconfinement and in order to face the pandemic according to the health situation and reality of each particular area. This plan has managed to contain the contagions and to advance little by little, with caution and prudence, taking into account the recommendations of science, the WHO, a Social Table COVID-19 and an Advisory Council.
In these days, the Step by Step Plan has been adjusted, considering the advanced vaccination process and a multisectoral approach, with the purpose of better balancing and weighing the different objectives and needs of the country.
On the educational level, schools and kindergartens returned from their winter vacations yesterday, Monday, July 26. According to the latest modifications in the Step by Step Plan, educational establishments will be the first to open and the last to close, being able to operate even in quarantine. It is expected that more than 70% of the country's establishments will open in the next two weeks.
- Protected Borders Plan
The Protected Borders Plan started yesterday, Monday, July 26, and allows the exit of the country for people only with a Mobility Pass ( with some exceptions), besides establishing sanitary conditions for the traveler entering the country in terms of completing a strict and mandatory isolation of 10 days.
Sanitary measures for entry into the country are strengthened through the National Border Control and Traveler Surveillance Unit.
Who can leave Chile?
- Chileans and foreigners residing in Chile, with:
- Mobility pass enabled. Does not include minors without mobility pass (only for Arturo Merino Benitez Airport).
- Or with exceptional permission to leave the country, obtained in virtual police station and approved. Reasons for obtaining it: Humanitarian character, essential steps for the traveler's health, fundamental steps for the proper functioning of the country, residing abroad.
- Non-resident foreigners leaving Chile with their passport from their country of origin
Who can enter Chile?
- Chileans and foreigners residing in Chile
- Foreigners not residing in Chile (exceptions only).
Sources:
Ministry of Education of Chile
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