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Mexico's COVID-19 Vaccination Drive: High Uptake of Pfizer and Moderna Boosters, Low Acceptance of Russian and Cuban Vaccines

Mexicans prefer established vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna for boosters. Public distrust in Russian and Cuban vaccines hampers their uptake, despite government efforts to promote them.

In this image we can see few people standing and a person is holding a vaccine bottle and there is...
In this image we can see few people standing and a person is holding a vaccine bottle and there is a calendar and text on the image.

Mexico's COVID-19 Vaccination Drive: High Uptake of Pfizer and Moderna Boosters, Low Acceptance of Russian and Cuban Vaccines

Mexico's COVID-19 vaccination drive has seen high uptake among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, with many opting for Pfizer and Moderna boosters. However, the acceptance of Russian and Cuban vaccines remains low due to concerns about their effectiveness and safety.

Despite Mexico procuring millions of doses of Russian Sputnik and Cuban Abdala vaccines, only around 1.9 million eligible individuals, or 9.5%, have chosen to receive them since October 2021. This low take-up rate is attributed to public distrust in these vaccines, stemming from their relative novelty and lack of extensive studies on their effectiveness against current variants.

In contrast, four out of five people who received influenza shots this year declined the government's recommendation to get Russian or Cuban COVID-19 boosters simultaneously. This suggests a preference for more established vaccines, such as those produced by Pfizer and Moderna, which have been designed to target the currently circulating COVID variants. However, Mexico has delayed approval for these boosters, potentially impacting their availability.

As of 2025, the use of Russian and Cuban COVID-19 booster vaccines remains limited outside their regions of origin. In Mexico, efforts to promote these vaccines have faced challenges due to public concerns about their safety and efficacy. To boost vaccination rates, addressing these concerns and expediting approval for established booster vaccines may be crucial.

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