Mexico became the first Latin American country to start vaccination against coronavirus, amid an increase in cases, reports the New York Times.
Why it matters: The serum arrives at the moment when hospitals in Mexico reach a critical point. The country has recorded more than 1.3 million COVID-19 cases and 120,000 deaths, according to John Hopkins University data, although the actual figures are considered much higher.
The big picture: Authorities are prioritizing healthcare professionals in December and January before starting to vaccinate older Mexicans who are most at risk.
- The first 3,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered to Mexico on Wednesday, and vaccinations began the following day; another 50,000 doses are expected to arrive this month.
- Hospitals have suffered from the recent increase in cases. 85% of beds are occupied according to official NYT figures.
- Mexico City, a COVID hotspot, banned non-essential activities last week in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
Context: Latin American countries have suffered high death counts while the pandemic destroys health systems and economies.
- Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina are expected to start their own vaccination campaigns this month.
What to watch: Brazil has an even higher case count than Mexico, with 7.3 million and more than 189,000 deaths. Brazil’s health regulatory agency has yet to approve any vaccines, according to the NYT.