Folks wait to obtain an AstraZeneca coronavirus illness (COVID-19) vaccine throughout a vaccination marketing campaign for homeless folks, in Rio de Janeiro’s downtown, Brazil, Might 27, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
BRASILIA, Oct 6 (Reuters) – The variety of new COVID-19 infections has been dropping over the previous month all through the Americas, although solely 37% of the folks in Latin America and the Caribbean are totally vaccinated, the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO) mentioned on Wednesday.
Within the final week, 1.2 million folks have been confirmed with COVID-19 within the area, down from 1.5 million new instances the earlier week.
Alaska has essentially the most severe present outbreak in america, overwhelming emergency rooms, and Mexico is reporting a bounce in new instances, the well being company mentioned.
And whereas South America is constant to see a drop in infections, Chile has had a surge in instances within the capital Santiago and port cities Coquimbo and Antofagasta.
PAHO additionally mentioned it has closed vaccine provide agreements with Sinovac Biotech Inc (SVA.O) and AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) for the supply of 8.5 million doses this 12 months, and with China’s Sinopharm Group (1099.HK) for subsequent 12 months.
Jamaica, Nicaragua and Haiti have but to achieve even 10% vaccination protection, PAHO mentioned.
“We should focus our consideration to shut this hole as shortly as attainable,” PAHO Director Carissa Etienne informed reporters in a weekly briefing through which she urged nations with surplus vaccine doses to share them with nations within the area to avoid wasting lives.
PAHO is doing all it could possibly to hurry up vaccination within the area, by delivering doses by COVAX – the World Well being Group co-led vaccine entry program – by supporting donations and by direct purchases of vaccines by its revolving fund, Etienne mentioned.
Previously week, 875,000 vaccine doses arrived in nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, although that’s nonetheless not sufficient to guard the inhabitants, she added.
The US is donating 4 million vaccine doses to the Caribbean, PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa mentioned.
Barbosa mentioned donations are badly wanted as a result of COVAX won’t be able to fulfill its goal of offering doses for 20% of the inhabitants of Latin America and the Caribbean by the tip of this 12 months.
He blamed producers for the COVAX delays, saying they most well-liked to provide for shoppers who pay extra for the photographs.
Reporting by Anthony Boadle
Modifying by Invoice Berkrot
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
