This is what someone that also participates in a forum for expats here had to say that expresses so much what I am feeling. They just issued one study trying to figure out what sort of efficacy the Sinovac is having here and it did not seem very complete or well done at all. The findings were vague, apart form 54% efficacy. Anyways, his thoughts were:

"I think my bigger bone to pick here goes way beyond this one crappy study.

It is the complicity if the University of Chile, Ministry of Health, the government, The Colegio Médico (Medical Association) and the frigging media to carefully tiptoe around asking even mildly obvious questions about the Sinovac vaccine. Never mind any serious questions about the science.

This vaccine is over a year old, administered to millions of people around the world, and there is not one credible study anywhere? Really?

Even this group of scientists today that was calling on the government to publish daily case reports on who got what vaccine and how many of those people were contracting the virus, being hospitalized, etc (which I agree with), were, in their own passive aggressive Chilean cultural way, being super careful to not rock the boat."

Here we are told by the clown show government we all need to get the vaccine, blah blah, blah, but we are not getting the information we need to make an informed decision. And this government does nothing to inspire confidence. They just want people to go get their vaccines so they can pat themselves on the back for their successful vaccination campaign.

It was just mentioned in Forbes that the president and his family saw their net worth increase by US$300 million while small businesses are failing left and right due to the lockdowns and restrictions on what can be bought. They are getting almost no help. It's really sad.


The government is trying to clarify what can be sold and not and has backpedaled on some items, but stores are, not surprisingly, being very cautious. My husband went to the grocery store yesterday and they had blocked off items like hand and body cream. I guess there was a concern they could be considered cosmetics. It is so ridiculous. Of course, the government says, we should be able to handle it because it's only for 15 days, but they love extending these measures so it could be more.

Last night I hit a low point because my husband was trying to convince me to just go get Sinovac since they have stock again. He's worried about being called back to work and bringing it home and getting me sick. I just don't see him going back to work any time soon Even in November when cases were so much lower, they never went back. It turned into an argument and I got kind of upset. We almost never argue.


I had the idea to try and contact a pulmonologist I used to see where I lived to see if maybe he'd give me a certificate giving some reason to get Pfizer. Unfortunately, it would have to be by telemedicine and the clinic where he works doesn't let you choose a doctor for a telemedicine appointment. You get whoever they assign you. I don't think it would be too easy to convince someone I don't know at all. I can't find his e-mail either. I need to get creative with this, and soon.

So, yeah, I'm feeling like absolute crap today. Anxious, stressed and hopeless.