The Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating economies, health systems, and tourism worldwide, and it has caused millions of deaths. In many countries such as the U.S, the health regulators have approved the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children starting from the age of five. In Chile, children starting with the age of six can get vaccinated against the new coronavirus with the Sinovac Covid vaccine.
However, there have been no vaccine mandates related to young children. A Central American country, Costa Rica, decided to become the first country in the world to issue a vaccine mandate for children. The vaccine used for children will be the one created by the Pfizer BioNTech companies. The deal between the government and the pharmaceutical companies is that the country will receive 3.5 million doses, and almost half of them will be used for children from 5 to 11 years old.
Costa Rica has over 55% of its population fully vaccinated
According to the most recent statistics, the country has over 5.1 million people, and more than 55% of them have been fully vaccinated against the new coronavirus. Since the beginning of the pandemic over 7000, people from Costa Rica have lost their lives due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Vaccine mandates and other rules in Costa Rica
The country’s government decided to adopt a vaccine mandate for everyone eligible, and it will take effect starting January 8, 2022. There is little time left until the transition period begins in December. From the first day of December, commercial businesses can operate at 100% capacity if they allow access only to vaccinated people. If they want to allow unvaccinated people as well, they can only operate at 50% capacity.
Some businesses that enter into the category of commercial establishments are restaurants, hotels, shops, gyms, bars, casinos, museums, etc.
Next year, all businesses need to ask for proof of vaccination, except places considered essential services.
