[News] What is vaccine tourism? How certain countries shield their doses against the possible arrival of foreigners with an interest in immunization

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Chile announced this Wednesday, October 10, the modification of its vaccination criteria against the coronavirus for foreigners, reserving immunization only for those who are residents or have initiated the visa request, Foreign Minister Andrés Allamand reported.

The measure seeks to avoid the so-called "vaccine tourism" after a report by a Peruvian television station was broadcast in the country that explained that for about $ 1,000 you could travel to Chile and receive the vaccine, where it is free and voluntary.

"Foreigners who are in the country with a tourist visa will not have the right to be vaccinated in Chile. Nor will foreigners who are as tourists but come from a country for which a visa is not required," the minister explained.

"Thirdly, foreigners who are in the country in an irregular situation, but who have not started the application procedures for a temporary or permanent visa, are not going to be vaccinated either," he added.

In total, 651,266 have received the first dose and 13,436 the first and second doses.

 

What is happening in Peru?
Peru is another of the nations that have adopted measures. The Peruvian portal Salud con Lupa released a statement from the Government of that country: "Given the misinformation spread by WillaxTV and the Magaly TV program, the Ministry of Health of Chile recalls that there is a resolution that excludes foreign tourists from the process vaccination, as a way to prevent and avoid 'vaccine tourism' ".

In the South American nation there are more than 30,000 health care professionals, according to the records of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), a po[CENSORED]tion that will be vaccinated as a priority, as the vaccination process advances. 300,000 doses arrived last weekend.

Unlike those two countries, Cuba has plans to hook potential tourists by offering vaccination at a cost. This is stated in an article on the specialized portal Entorno Turístico.

"This is the case of 'vaccine tourism', an intention that was officially communicated by the Government of Cuba, where they are working on creating their own vaccine, not only to provide its po[CENSORED]tion, but also to sell it and offer it to visitors in order to to reactivate tourism, an initiative that other destinations will surely seek to replicate in the medium term, once the logistics issue to achieve these objectives is clearer ", it is outlined.

For now, Sovereign 2, as the Cuban vaccine is called, is in phase 3 of tests. In the first instance, the digital portal adds, it seeks to immunize the island's residents, to then meet the demand of tourists, those who seek the vaccine beyond the sun, the beach and the culture of Cuba.

The lack of doses in developing countries generates this interest in those people who have the possibility of paying for a trip, as if it were a trip on an annual vacation, despite the risk of contracting the virus along the way. The pandemic continues. Worldwide, 107 million cases and 2.3 million deaths have been recorded, according to information from the digital map of COVID-19 from Johns Hopkins University.

 

Health tourism paradise
In other latitudes these plans are already a reality. In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it is positioning itself as one of the paradises of the so-called health tourism.

The RTVE chain tells in an article that "some travel agencies and entities in the luxury sector offer this service to their clients over 65 years of age, as it is the group with the highest risk and priority in vaccinations."

"They are vacation packages only suitable for people with high purchasing power, since they usually cost around 40,000 euros for a three-week trip, enough time to receive the two doses of the vaccine that guarantee immunity against the coronavirus."

 

The US also receives these types of tourists
The same publication mentions the state of Florida, United States, which has registered an increase in the arrival of wealthy tourists from Latin America and Canada to request the vaccine. There, the health authorities do not require proof of residence to be immunized.

 

Ecuador, another reality
In Ecuador, a pilot vaccination plan is being carried out, which includes the arrival of 86,000 doses. So far, the health authorities have received 8,190. A total of 6,228 people have been vaccinated against the new coronavirus, with a cut to February 4. Among the beneficiaries are first-line medical personnel and the elderly.