Frustrated with the lagging pace of Covid vaccination campaigns at home, wealthy and middle-class Latin Americans with tourist visas have in recent weeks been flocking to the United States, where there is a surplus of vaccine doses and where demand has been lagging.
The Biden administration said that it would give 80 million vaccine doses by the end of June to countries that are scrambling to vaccinate their people.
Still, as success stories of Latin Americans getting their jabs are shared on social media posts and by word of mouth, and local officials in New York and Alaska actively encourage vaccination tourism, the cost of airfare on several routes has skyrocketed as thousands make plans to head north.
I – Word Understanding
Lagging – slow (compared to others)
Flocking – heading/ going to (the US) in a large number
Jab – injection / vaccination
Skyrocketed – increased rapidly
II – Have Your Say
1, How is the Covid-19 vaccination in your area?
2, Are you ready to get your vaccine? When do you expect to get it? What are your concerns about it?
3, There are many Covid-19 vaccine brands available now for emergency use. Which brand do you prefer to get? Do you think people should be given a choice in which brand to get?
4, Are you in favor of this “vaccine tourism”? What does it say about our society?
Do you think Japan should open its doors to “vaccine tourism” in the future?
811 Well-off Latin Americans are heading to the U.S. for Covid vaccine shots
