Some cities in Brazil are providing booster shots as part of the strategy to limit Brazil coronavirus cases. The booster shot is being rolled out even though most people have not yet received their second jabs, in a sign of the concern in the country over the highly contagious delta variant in South America.
Rio de Janeiro, currently Brazil’s epicentre for the variant and home to one of its largest elderly populations, began administering the boosters Wednesday. Northeastern cities Salvador and Sao Luis started on Monday, and the most populous city of Sao Paulo will begin Sept. 6. The rest of the nation will follow next week.
Booster shots
France, Israel, China and Chile are among those countries giving boosters to some of their older citizens, but more people in those countries are fully vaccinated than the 30% who have gotten two shots in Brazil.
A U.S. plan to start delivery of booster shots by Sept. 20 for most Americans is facing complications that could delay third doses for those who received the Moderna vaccine, administration officials said Friday.
Brazil coronavirus cases
About nine out of 10 Brazilians have been vaccinated already or plan to be, according to pollster Datafolha. Most have gotten their first shot but not their second.
Brazil’s cases and deaths have been falling for two months, with 621 deaths reported in the seven days through Sept. 2 — far below April’s peak of more than 3,000 reported deaths over a seven-day period. Older Brazilians have expressed concern about the efficacy of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine against the delta variant, prompting authorities to offer booster shots.
Because of the variant, some experts say the government should slow the rollout of boosters and focus on distributing second doses. Brazil has also closed its borders to foreigners and will introduce a covid passport.
The Delta variant, which originated from India, is the most contagious variant identified, and many studies have suggested that one dose doesn’t protect against it.
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The Daily Express leads with suggestions from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that millions of people could get Covid booster jabs within weeks. The paper says all over-50s are expected to get another dose in the first phase of a booster programme, with the elderly given priority.