The decision mirrors one made last year and aims to prevent these centers from becoming hotspots for seasonal autumn and winter illnesses.

Currently circulating in the country are Rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza A, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, among others.

Authorities also recommend that individuals with respiratory symptoms wear masks in enclosed spaces, such as on public transit or in schools.

Last week, Health Minister Ximena Aguilera reiterated her call for people to get vaccinated before May when virus circulation typically increases.

President Gabriel Boric addressed anti-vaccine rhetoric in the country and globally, reminding people that vaccines prevent diseases, reduce mortality rates, and improve life expectancy.

The President indirectly referred to recent statements by Johannes Kaiser, the presidential candidate for the far-right Libertarian National Party, who questioned the childhood immunization program and claimed that vaccines use heavy metals to bind to the body.

Boric, who visited the Marta Ugarte Family Health Centre to get vaccinated, urged responsibility and stated that neither the media nor political discourse should provide a platform for spreading misinformation.

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