Ecuador Makes Covid Shots a Must‑Do
Ecuador’s government rolled out a mandatory Covid‑19 vaccination policy on Thursday, December 23, in response to a surge of cases and new variants making the country’s headlines all the more dramatic.
Why Now?
“Because infections are rising and variants like Omicron keep surfacing,” the health ministry declared. That’s the gist: the pandemic is still far from over, even if we’re all tired of mask‑wearing.
Vaccination Snapshot
- 12.4 million people fully vaccinated – a whopping 77.2 % of residents aged 5 and above.
- The country’s target: an 85 % coverage this year.
- Despite demands, there’s enough vaccine to punch up all 17.8 million Ecuadorians.
Who Must Get the Shot?
- Adult citizens are on the hook; the rule now applies to all who are medically fit.
- If you have a medical condition that’s a deal‑breaker, a certification can exempt you.
- For comparison, Indonesia, Micronesia, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan already require adult vaccination.
- Germany and Austria plan to follow suit next year.
Current Numbers
- More than 537,000 confirmed cases.
- Nearly 33,600 deaths attributed to the virus.
In short, Ecuador is stepping up its defense—time to get vaccinated, or at least get proof if the medical exception applies.
