APRIL 8, 2021

Chile receives another 13 million doses for its vaccination rollout thanks to a new shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines

The Science Minister and the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency received a shipment of 234,000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses and emphasized the need to maintain COVID19 prevention measures as the vaccination rollout continues.

Science Minister Andrés Couve and Minister Secretary General of the Presidency Juan José Ossa went to the Perilogistics distribution center to receive Chile’s twelfth shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

Minister Couve stated that “this batch of 234,000 doses is the second largest shipment that Chile has received from the Pfizer laboratory. We have received a total of around 13 million doses of vaccines, which shows how early planning, coordination between ministries, and being willing to sign agreements with different suppliers around the world have proven to be the right path for Chile.”

The Science Minister also highlighted the importance of the Public Health Institute’s recent approval of the CanSino vaccine, which will add another 1.8 million single-dose vaccines to Chile’s vaccination campaign during May and June. “I would like to conclude by saying that we still have a long way to go, and make a special call on everyone to continue using self-care measures. Please be responsible, maintain social distancing, avoid crowds, wear masks and wash your hands. These are the tools we have for combatting the pandemic, along with the vaccine,” said Minister Couve.

Minister Ossa thanked “all those who are part of this great effort to vaccinate the Chilean people in such an exemplary manner. I’d like to express my appreciation, not only for what has been done by the President, but also to the healthcare and local municipal personnel, and all the Chileans who are getting out there to keep this process moving forward.”

When asked about the Argentine Government’s statements about the numbers of Pfizer BioNTech vaccines arriving in Chile, Minister Andrés Couve said that “constant access to information has been one of the keys to Chile's vaccination process progressing properly. The data has been available and it has been important in planning the vaccination rollout and follow-up. (...) Thanks to the information system in which thousands of people are actively participating under the leadership of the Health Ministry, we are able to clearly understand what doses Chile has received and administered.”