Dominican president takes third vaccine shot

Luis Abinader, president of the Dominican Republic, became the first Latin American leader to take a third vaccine shot against Covid-19 this week. 

While the need for an extra booster shot is not yet a consensus among the scientific community — in Brazil, for example, studies on the matter are in early stages — the 10.8-million-people Caribbean nation greenlit the extra jab in its national vaccine campaign, becoming pioneers in the continent.

Addressing the nation. Mr. Abinader, who received two shots of the Sinovac vaccine before taking a Pfizer booster, called all citizens to seek vaccination, as it is “the only way to return to normal life.” 

The Dominican Republic is a positive vaccine outlier in Latin America, with over 36 percent of the population immunized with two doses. Furthermore, over 222,000 people received a third shot. 

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