SAN JOSE – Authorities in Costa Rica mentioned on Tuesday all state staff will be vaccinated against COVID-19, making it one of many first countries in Latin America to impose a coronavirus vaccination mandate.
Private companies throughout the nation may also be able to mandate vaccination for their own employees, the health ministry mentioned in a statement. No deadline was given for when employees must comply.
Some 300,000 individuals work within the public sector of the Central American nation of about 5 million, whose economy depends heavily on tourism. Approximately 40% of the population has been fully vaccinated but big gaps remain, as almost 30% of Costa Ricans haven’t received even a single shot.
The Social Security Fund, which runs Costa Rica’s public hospital system, has since February required immunization against COVID-19 for all its workers.
On Monday, the University of Costa Rica, the nation’s biggest university, also introduced a vaccination mandate.
The health authorities didn’t outline the consequences for employees who refuse to take a vaccine, saying “it will be the employer’s accountability to take measures according to the nation’s legislation and institutional regulations”.
