Uruguay confirms vaccination booster doses for foreign tourists when reopening borders

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The measure was agreed Thursday (14) in a meeting between President Luis Lacalle Pou and Minister of Tourism Tabaré Viera, the latter said at a press conference.

The agreement entails offering foreigners entering the country from November 1, third doses for adults and first doses for children under 18 years of age, the official explained. Once Uruguay opens its borders, only foreigners who can prove that they have the complete vaccination schedule against the coronavirus will be allowed to enter the country.

“It is one more service to be offered to tourists,” Viera stressed, clarifying that the issue must be analyzed by Lacalle Pou with the Ministry of Public Health to define the details of its implementation.

Out of a population of 3,543,025 inhabitants, Uruguay has vaccinated 2,748,988 (77.59%) with at least the first dose, 2,602,364 (73.45%) with two doses and 1,104,992 with a booster, according to the Vaccination Monitor on the Ministry of Public Health website.

Thus, 6,456,344 doses have been administered in the country, at a rate of 182.23 per 100 inhabitants.

On September 1, Uruguay began the progressive reopening of its borders – which had been closed since March 17, 2020, days after the declaration of the sanitary emergency due to Covid-19 – by allowing the entry of foreigners with properties in the country.

In November, restrictions will be permanently lifted and all foreigners will be allowed to enter, provided they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and present a negative PCR test.

Uruguay’s health situation, its high percentage of people vaccinated against Covid-19 and people’s “willingness to travel” will be key factors in attracting foreigners to the South American country, Tabaré Viera said.

“We are emerging from a mixed health situation, that is still influencing for better or worse. I feel that people are eager to travel, to leave their confinement; therefore, surely in November we will see a significant increase in the flow of tourists and the movement and interest in the summer season. November is going to be the month of bookings,” he stressed.

“I believe that once recovery begins with the reopening of borders, we will have a considerable increase in tourist activity sustained by domestic tourism which grew in pandemic times and with that will come investments, which are crucial,” the Minister emphasized.

“To all that Uruguay has traditionally offered in terms of service quality, natural beauties, its safety, today we have some additional advantages and above all, health safety. If we were finally able to define that foreigners visiting the country will be able to get a booster dose of the vaccine and that children under 18 can get vaccinated, I believe our offer will be very competitive,” he concluded.