Uruguay to buy 3.7 million Pfizer vaccine doses to immunize residents and give tourists booster shots

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The announcement was made by the Secretary of the Presidency of Uruguay Álvaro Delgado, after holding a meeting with Pfizer’s regional manager Nicolás Bäcker, where the agreement was reached to “strengthen the immunization of Uruguayans.”

“In today’s meeting the government agreed on the supply of 3.7 million doses of messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer laboratory for 2022 (…) It is good to be reassured, and we are proud of the vaccination rate of Uruguayans,” he said.

He also highlighted some “additional clauses” in the contract, such as the likely approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inoculate children under 12 years of age with the Pfizer vaccine, which would lead Uruguay to consider the possibility of vaccinating this age group.

“Should the FDA approves the Pfizer vaccine with a differentiated dose for children between 5 and 12 years of age, Uruguay may choose to provide it in due time,” he added.

Delgado stressed that Uruguayans will have “the capacity” to have booster doses for immunization in 2022.

The Secretary of the Presidency confirmed that, although the vaccination of Uruguayans and residents in the country will be the priority, there will be a stock for tourists who wish to get a booster dose.

“The remaining doses, from December and throughout January and the season, will be offered to non-resident foreigners visiting Uruguay,” he explained.

In addition, he pointed out that the amount of available doses will be decided in the coming days, but that this will always be in proportion so as “not to compromise booster doses” for Uruguayans and residents who wish to schedule.

“It is not vaccine tourism, it is tourism with vaccines,” he emphasized and clarified that people entering Uruguay will be required to be fully immunized, thus having only access to a booster dose in the country.