Santiago, Chile:
The coronavirus vaccine has reached Antarctica immediately after Chile immunized 49 persons on the continent, the South American country’s air force mentioned on Wednesday.
Chile’s immunization system has received lots of plaudits as authorities have managed to give 5 million persons — practically a third of the population — at least one vaccine dose.
And on Sunday, it even began immunizing members of the armed forces and scientific researchers stationed at the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva air base in Antarctica, with a additional 53 persons at the base set to get their initially dose in the coming days.
None of these vaccinated, all aged involving 25 and 58, “have shown any allergic reaction of any type,” Victor Videla, the physician in charge of the immunization system, told AFP.
People stationed at two other Chilean bases in Antarctica are due to get their initially doses, but these had been delayed by adverse climate situations, Videla mentioned.
Antarctica was one of the final areas on Earth to be impacted by the virus, but on December 21, an outbreak was reported at a Chilean army base, with 36 persons infected.
To safeguard the continent, all tourist visits to Antarctica had been canceled, unessential personnel had been evacuated and make contact with involving the 40 international bases in the location was prohibited.
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