More COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for region

Caribbean nations are among countries in the Americas set to receive 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year, Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Dr Carissa Etienne revealed on Wednesday.

Speaking at PAHO’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing, she reported that vaccine supplies are expected to pick up in 2022, as she expressed concern that vaccine coverage across Latin America and the Caribbean was still uneven and vulnerable groups were particularly at risk.

“Countries should refocus their efforts in protecting health workers, immunocompromised individuals and the elderly, first,” Dr Etienne said.

Thanking donors that already helped the region secure doses when supply was limited, she said there will be some 26 million doses of further donations from the United States, Spain, Canada, Germany, and France. PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which has so far purchased almost 100 million doses, is also on track to obtain a further 200 million doses on behalf of the region this year.

As these doses arrive, Dr Etienne urged countries to start making the necessary preparations for vaccine roll-out, including investing in vaccination programmes, collecting and reporting detailed vaccine data, and prioritizing high-risk groups.

According to the top PAHO official, 63 per cent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have now been vaccinated against COVID-19, with 14 countries and territories immunizing 70 per cent  of their populations and the same number failing to reach even 40 per cent  coverage,

With 7 million new infections and over 34,000 deaths reported in the region since last week, she highlighted “worrisome gaps” in the vaccination of at-risk populations – with some countries reporting lower coverage among the elderly compared to younger groups who are less at risk for severe disease.

Dr Etienne said the full extent of the disparity remains unknown, as detailed data is limited. She stressed that it was therefore vital that countries collect and report data showing vaccination coverage by age, sex, or risk group.

“These data are crucial to designing targeted vaccination campaigns, maximizing the impact of vaccine doses and saving lives,” she said.

The PAHO director also issued a direct message to the millions of adults in the Caribbean who have yet to receive their vaccines: “I am a medical doctor, wife, mother and grandmother. I could not wait to get my vaccination, I was so anxious for the wellbeing of myself and my 95-year old mother.”

“Please don’t delay, get vaccinated today,” she urged. “COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and they’re the best way to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from this virus.”

Turning to the COVID-19 situation in the region, Dr Etienne reported that the rise in infections appears to be slowing down in places hit earliest by the Omicron variant.

In the Caribbean, deaths have more than doubled in Cuba, The Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda. Other islands, including Martinique and Guadeloupe, are seeing the virus spread rapidly among young and unvaccinated populations.

“These trends show that we must continue to sustain every part of our COVID response,” Dr Etienne said. “Vaccinations, testing, and continuing public health measures like mask-wearing and social distancing remain crucial.” (SD/PAHO)