565,897
“In May a higher entry of vaccines is expected than in April, which will lead to an increase in the application of doses,” the Presidency said in a statement.
More than 16% of the Costa Rican population that needs to be vaccinated already has at least one dose of a vaccine, per government figures. Authorities project the inoculation of people over 65 years of age will be completed by May 15, and all Group 2 before the end of June.
“The Government of the Republic insists on its call to abide by sanitary measures: social distancing, respect for social bubbles and hand washing,” the Presidency said. “In this way, between all of them, the increase in Covid-19 infections will be flattened and we will avoid the saturation of hospital services.”
Costa Rica will start vaccinating younger adults who have at least one Covid-19 risk factor, the Social Security System announced Wednesday.
Areas that have vaccinated at least 80% of elderly adults (defined here as 58 years or older) will start inoculating at-risk 18 to 57-year-olds.
“Our priority is to finish vaccinating the elderly, but we also need to advance in the vaccination process with Group 3 in those health areas that are already close to ending with Group 2,” said Mario Ruíz, medical manager of the Caja.
Among the risk factors that qualify a Costa Rican citizen or resident into Group 3 are: hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, grade III obesity, morbid obesity, cancer, HIV-AIDS and the beneficiaries of organ transplants.
In April alone, Costa Rica has gotten 507,690 doses, more than any previous month.
As of Tuesday’s update, Costa Rica has administered 818,884 vaccine injections nationwide. This represents 15.86 jabs per 100 residents.
“The Government of the Republic insists on the importance of applying all the recommended sanitary measures to avoid the contagion of SARS-CoV-2, especially at a time when Costa Rica presents not only the most accelerated increase in cases of the entire pandemic, but also a saturation of intensive care units (ICU) in the country’s hospitals,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Costa Rica’s vaccine priority is as follows:
Costa Rica received a shipment of 118,000 Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccines on Tuesday night and has been delivered 1.14 million total doses from that pharmaceutical and the Covax mechanism.
In April alone, Costa Rica has gotten 347,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, plus 43,200 doses of the AstraZeneca formula.
As of Tuesday’s update, Costa Rica has applied 698,327 vaccine injections nationwide. This represents 13.53 jabs per 100 residents.
“Authorities reiterate their call to the population to heed health measures against COVID-19 due to the critical moment of the pandemic that is going through,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Costa Rica’s vaccine priority is as follows:
Costa Rica on Monday began inoculating citizens and residents against Covid-19 using the AstraZeneca vaccine.
At a ceremony, several Costa Rican authorities received the vaccine in an apparent effort to boost confidence in the AstraZeneca formula. Health Minister Daniel Salas called the event a “symbolic” reminder that “everyone who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated.”
“Even though there have been some controversies, this has continually shown to be a highly safe vaccine,” Salas said. “We have to remember that in this fight against Covid-19, vaccines continue to be our strongest tool to end the pandemic.”
Salas, Public Security Minister Michael Soto and Caja President Román Macaya were among the first people to receive the jabs.