Chile Pulls Ahead in the Vaccination Race

Chile has emerged as the clear front runner in Latin America’s race to get as many people as possible vaccinated against Covid-19.

According to the latest figures from the Our World in Data project at Oxford University in England, Chile is currently ranked No. 8 globally for the percentage of citizens who have already received the first shot.

Nearly 6.7 million Chileans are now vaccinated, a number that represents 19.2 percent of the total population or 19.5 doses administered for every 100 citizens.

That puts Chile behind countries like the U.S. U.K. Israel and United Arab Emirates but well ahead of other Latin American nations like Brazil (3.2%), Costa Rica (2%), Argentina (1.9%) and Mexico (1.6%).

According to a recent report on The Conversation website, Chile emerged as the unlikely leader because the government decided to order 90 million doses of the Covid vaccine from a variety of sources after positive cases spiked last year.

Despite Chile’s status as a high-income nation compared to many others in Latin America, the government convinced vaccine manufacturers and distributors that it should pay less for vaccines than other high-income countries because of the pandemic and its ongoing political troubles had severely weakened the Chilean economy.

According to The Conversation, Chile’s government built “a highly diverse portfolio of vaccines, composed of different types at different stages of development, to hedge risks.” They adopted this strategy early in the pandemic and “moved quickly into negotiations with many pharmaceutical companies, including frontrunners such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer.”

Aiding their effort was the fact that because of its open, trade-friendly economy, “Chilean negotiators have strong skills, a wide range of international contacts and are used to facing uncertain environments.”

Chile’s rapid and far-reaching response to the Covid crises is already having an impact on tourism. The country recently reopened its doors to U.S. and other foreign tourists. With some restrictions.

Travelers must present proof of a negative Covid test taken 72 hours before boarding their flight to Chile, complete the “Traveler’s Sworn Statement” electronic form up to 48 hours before boarding, provide the airline with proof of a health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of USD $30,000 that covers COVID-19 issues.

In addition, during their first 14 days after arrival in Chile, travelers must fill out an electronic tracking form every day.

Taking into account the figures and protocols detailed above, Chile has emerged as a great destination to consider when planning your next international trip. And if you think of Chile, a visit to Torres del Paine National Park — named the 8th wonder of the world — is a definite must.

Las Torres Reserve, a magical place in the heart of the national park, offers a wide range of overnight options and activities.

Located at the base of the legendary massif, Hotel Las Torres delivers stunning views, upscale accommodation and marvelous cuisine. For those who want a more challenging encounter with nature, the legendary “W” and “O” hiking circuits offer a number of campsites, mountain hostels and refugios that can be booked through the reserve’s trekking circuits outfitter (formerly known as Fantástico Sur).

All of the campsites are scheduled to reopen on September 15th, except for Seron which is reopening on October 1st. The mountain hostels, refugios and Hotel Las Torres are reopen on October 20th.

Secure your booking by contacting the Las Torres Reserve reservations department at info@lastorres.com.