AstraZeneca has filed data with Chilean regulators for the emergency roll-out of its Covid-19 vaccine in the country and could get a green light “weeks or even days” after approval by European or American regulators. Chile has signed a deal to buy 14.4 million doses of the drug, an amount that would vaccinate nearly 40% of Chile's population.
Category: Public policy
Information related to political affairs that have an impact on Chile’s economic development.
Chile becomes first South American country to start COVID-19 vaccination
Chile became the first country in South America to begin coronavirus vaccinations on Thursday after receiving its first 10,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses. Medical workers were the first to be inoculated. Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said people with chronic illnesses and the elderly would be the next groups to receive the vaccine.
Chilean president announces that COVID-19 vaccination will begin on Thursday
President Sebastián Piñera said that the COVID-19 vaccination campaign will begin on Thursday, after the arrival of the first 10,000 doses. President Piñera announced that a plane carrying the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines has already left Belgium and is scheduled to arrive in Chile in the early hours on Thursday. The vaccination process will begin immediately. Chile will have more than 30 million doses as a result of contracts signed wth separate companies.
President Piñera says Pfizer vaccine could start being administered next week
According to President Sebastian Piñera, doses of the Pfizer vaccine could start being deployed in Chile as early as next week, with the first round of injections going to health care workers. The vaccine will then be available to other essential workers, followed by the elderly and other high priority groups.
Chile suspends flights to and from Great Britain for two weeks over COVID-19 concerns
Chile will suspend flights to and from Great Britain due to COVID-19 concerns, according to the Chilean government. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the day before that a new strain of the coronavirus had led to surging infection numbers. Non-resident foreigners who had been in Great Britain over the last 14 days will be banned from entering the country. The measure will go into effect at midnight Tuesday and last two weeks.
Chilean health regulator approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. First 20,000 doses will arrive this month
The Chilean health regulator has approved for emergency use the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, paving the way for the first doses to be administered as early as Christmas to citizens over the age of 16. The first 20,000 doses of vaccines will land this month in Chile, allowing to immediately start vaccinating all who work in the intensive care units of Chile's health system.
Government will compensate 600 farmers affected by collapse of Las Mercedes canal
The Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, announced a compensation bonus for at least 600 farmers in the communes of Curacaví and María Pinto. These areas were affected by the collapse of one of the tunnels of the Las Mercedes canal, which resulted in the interruption of the normal flow of water in at least 16,000 hectares of crops. The bond will depend on the size of the affected land.
Chilean government names Coding Dojo as strategic partner for national workforce development initiative
Coding Dojo has been named a strategic partner of the Chilean government for a public-private workforce development initiative, which is accelerating the country's transition to the digital economy by training 16,000 workers with in-demand technology skills. The 5-year programme is designed to address the technical skills gap in Chile. The training is provided to unemployed, low income, and middleclass participants free of charge so they can pursue entry level technical jobs upon graduation.
Process to withdraw privately held pension funds to begin December 10th
After President Piñera passed the law that allows AFP affiliates to withdraw their 10%, the Government announced that the process will begin on December 10th online (at least during the first two weeks). The date for the deadline is December 17th, which allows some payments to be received before Christmas.
Chilean lawmakers approve second pensions withdrawal
Chilean lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that allows citizens to make a second withdrawal from pension funds so they can cope with the economic havoc wreaked by the pandemic. The bill, which passed its last legislative hurdle with a Senate vote, allows for another 10% withdrawal from Chile’s privately managed pension funds.
