Costa Rica will receive 283,560 more coronavirus vaccine doses this week, the Presidency reported.
A batch of 79,560 Pfizer/BioNTech doses arrived Thursday night to Juan Santamaría International Airport, and a delivery of 204,000 AstraZeneca doses is scheduled for Sunday.
After passing quality control checks, the vaccines will be included in Costa Rica’s national vaccination campaign against Covid-19.
To date, Costa Rica has received 2.23 million vaccine doses from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and through the Covax facility. The majority (more than 1.8 million) have come from Pfizer.
“This figure represents hope and resilience for a country committed to everyone’s health,” said President Carlos Alvarado through a statement from the Presidency.
Costa Rica has purchased 9 million total doses, meaning it has received a just quarter of its total allotment. Earlier this week, the White House announced Costa Rica will be among the recipients for surplus doses shared by the United States through Covax.
Costa Rica has administered 1.66 million vaccine doses, or 31.13 per 100 residents. More than 1 million citizens and residents have received at least one injection.
Costa Rica’s vaccine priority is as follows:
- First group: Staff and residents at retirement or nursing homes. First responders, including health personnel.
- Second group: Costa Rica’s older population, defined here as those ages 58 and up. According to the Presidency, this group is required to demonstrate residency with a cédula or DIMEX.
- Third group: People from 12-58 with risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory illness, kidney disease and obesity, among others.
- Fourth group: Teachers and other staff within the Education Ministry (MEP) or private schools. Imprisoned people and judicial staff. Workers for the 911 service.
- Fifth group: Health science students and related technicians in clinical fields. People ages 40-57 without any of the aforementioned risk factors but whose work puts them in contact with others. Then, all remaining adults and children ages 12 years and older.
Vaccine administrations are coordinated by EBAIS, which are public-health clinics. Each EBAIS manages a list of people who live in their jurisdiction. This list is used to identify priority individuals and to schedule their vaccine appointments.
Costa Rica is currently vaccinating Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the above list, though not all EBAIS have reached Groups 3 and 4.
If you are in one of the priority groups, contact your local EBAIS to make sure they have your information. For EBAIS contact information, click here.
