Where do I go in Mexico to get Vaccinated?
Everyone in Mexico is eligible to get vaccinated against Covid-19
Photo by Steven Cornfield on Unsplash
Mexico was the first Latin American country to launch a vaccination program for Covid-19 in December of 2020. Under the watchful eye of the Military, health workers in Coahuila and in Mexico City, the capital of the country, began receiving the vaccine.
The roll-out began with Maria Irene Ramírez, an intensive care nurse, receiving the first Coronavirus shot and in February of 2021, Mexico began vaccinating seniors against Covid-19. Mexico has so far immunized 3,779,969 people against COVID-19 through its vaccination campaign.
What options, as an expat or as a foreigner living in Mexico, do I have for receiving the vaccine? I'll go over a few so that you can make an educated decision.
Dual citizens in Mexico
Before I go into any detail about Covid-19 vaccination in Mexico I invite you to take some time and look over your country's embassy website. By now, every country should have information out there for their citizens to consult.
I am linking to the US Embassy website that has information about Covid-19 in Mexico that is helpful for everyone. You should also look into travel restrictions for each country to avoid getting stuck in an airport hangar or some hotel at the border.
Now, an option for individuals currently living in Mexico with dual citizenship is to return to their country of origin to get vaccinated. You should still have a registered residence in your home country and showing an in-state driver's license should not be a problem.
However, look into vaccine requirements because they will vary. You might also want to think about the risk you are taking. Imagine all the people you will come in contact with as you travel home.
Availability of Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines in Mexico
It is no secret that every country in the world is struggling to secure Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. But the news keeps singling out Mexico. We know that the reason Mexico and other "poor "countries cannot secure vaccines is because "rich" nations are hoarding doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
Not just what is out there, but also future doses that are barely being produced. It might be to be better prepared or it could just be a scheme to make more money on the secondary market. Who knows, but history has taught us that profit always takes precedence.
This is a global problem that only one country is at fault for starting. However, the World's haphazard response aggravated the problem. World Order at its best.
The hoarding of Covid-19 vaccines by rich nations can backfire by actually worsening death tolls for these nations. It can prolong the pandemic around the world by risking it to spread and mutating into more dangerous variants that could be resistant to the vaccine.
I think it is in everyone's interest to get rid of the virus as widely as possible. The WHOS's COVAX program aims to distribute 2 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses worldwide by the end of 2021. It is a start to reducing inequality.
However, they are also running into the same supply problems because wealthy countries have already reserved almost the entire supply for the near future. You know what happens next. Demand will be so high that it will drive the price of the vaccine to go up.
Calls have been made for rich countries hoarding Covid-19 vaccines to donate to the COVAX program. It will go a long way to helping others and being human again.
Expats, foreigners and migrants will not be turned away
Mexico reported that everyone living in the country would be vaccinated against Covid-19, including foreigners. This is good news because it will benefit everyone.
I think there was a bit of a mix-up at the beginning because the process had to be modified when some individuals were denied vaccination. Now, foreign residents are assured of vaccine eligibility in Mexico City (CDMX).
You will only have to show proof of residency for one of the many neighborhoods in Mexico City. This can be something as simple as a light bill.
Covid-19 vaccines administered in Mexico
I stated earlier that Mexico is facing shortfalls in the supply of Coronavirus shots. As a result of this, Mexico is trying to acquire vaccines from every available source to meet the needed amount.
Mexico started vaccinating health workers in mid-December with the Pfizer vaccine. It has an efficacy rate of 95% and requires a second dose within 3 weeks of the first shot. However, 11,030 individuals in Mexico experienced some kind of reaction after taking this shot.
The AztraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is also being used to immunize against the Coronavirus in Mexico. This vaccine has an efficacy rate between 62% and 90%. A second dose is also required within 4 weeks of the first. As of today, 361 cases in Mexico have been reported of having secondary affects from this shot.
Sputnik V, with an efficacy rate of 91.4%, is starting to be administered in Mexico against the Covid-19. It also requires a second dose within 3 weeks of the first. Only 39 cases have been reported of experiencing adverse reactions after taking this vaccine in Mexico.
Sinovac became the fourth Covid-19 vaccine to be used in Mexico. Its efficacy rate varies a lot. Some have reported that the rate is 50% while other countries have stated an efficacy rate as high as 90%. Mexico has reported only 9 cases where a reaction occurred after administering Sinovac.
I also have to let you know that some reactions have been fatal. As of March 9, there have been 56 attributed to Pfizer; 11 to AstraZeneca and 1 to Sputnik V; of which, 53 were women and 15 men.
Other Covid-19 vaccines will soon arrive in Mexico
Mexico is trying to develop its own Covid-19 vaccine at the same time that it is conducting final trial tests of other vaccines. Mexico is also expected to receive more vaccines from other sources than the ones mentioned above. These supplies should flow into Mexico throughout the rest of 2021.
CureVac is a German Covid-19 vaccine with an efficacy rate of 95% and requires 2 separate doses within 4 weeks of each other. It is in the final stages of trial tests in Mexico and should be available soon.
Another vaccine that will soon be available is the Chinese CanSinioBio that has an efficacy rate of about 65.7% and requires only 1 dose. This vaccine will be packaged in Mexico.
Two different institutions will help Mexico with the delivery of more vaccines. The Serum Institute of India will allot vaccines for the common cold, measles and tuberculosis, as well as more AstraZeneca vaccines.
Mexico will also receive more AstraZenca vaccines through the WHOS's vaccination program COVAX.
Vaccination against Covid-19 in Mexico to continue until 2022
The campaign to vaccinate everyone in Mexico against the Coronavirus began in December 2020 with healthcare workers. In February 2021 senior citizens in Mexico followed suit and began getting vaccinated against Covid-19.
Different age groups have different dates for vaccination in Mexico and it will take well into mid 2022 to hopefully get to everyone living here.
You can consult age group, dates, places and areas that are coming up for vaccination in Mexico City at this link. You can check vaccination information for the rest of Mexico on this link.
Keep safe and remember to continue checking for new posts about the reality of life in Mexico. Click on my articles and bring a smile to your face.
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