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“Sputnik“Perhaps this was the word most clearly avoided in the sixty minutes of the virtual briefing of the SPO on the evolution of the Covid in the region, even if those who moderated the meeting this Wednesday strongly criticized barriers to entry that countries like the United States would impose on tourists, depending on the brand of vaccine received.
As usual in these zoom press conferences, journalists hear a toll of the coronavirus from Carissa Etienne and Jarbas barbosa, Director and Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), respectively; with the contribution of two other managers of the agency: Ciro Ugarte, director of health emergencies, and Sylvain Aldhigieri, responsible for incidents for the Covid-19. Then questions are asked.
Although they answered three questions from Bugle, did not give rise to the insistent request to detail the current state of the Russian vaccine approval process Sputnik V on behalf of the World Health Organization (PAHO’s “lead” body). 22% of Argentines are vaccinated with doses from this laboratory.
Travel stocks
Among the issues of local interest, PAHO’s fairly categorical criticism of the immigration restrictions, depending on vaccine received. Although they did not “snag” any country, the tacit allusion to the United States was obvious.
Jarbas Barbosa spoke of “segregation”.
United States President Joe Biden. / PA
Almost indignant, he underlined how in a context of difficult access to vaccines (the regional average for the administration of the complete regimens does not exceed 35%) some countries impose selective restrictions by type or brand of vaccine.
However, he highlighted the agency’s recommendation to “not receive a second Covid vaccineContrary to the intention of many Argentines to travel to the United States these days, before “stocks” were confirmed in November for those who received vaccines not authorized by the WHO.
“Receiving another vaccine is not a medical necessity and there are no studies which ensure that it is a safe procedure, ”he stressed.
Then he was harsh on countries that promote health restrictions like this: “WHO and PAHO do not recommend establishing no obstacle to travel people … many people do not have access to Covid vaccines in our region. WHERE have access to some and not to others”.
Vaccination at Miami International Airport. / AFP
Barbosa recalled that “at the international level, the only vaccine that can be requested to enter a country is that of yellow fever”, and stressed: “The recommendation is to expand access to vaccines before putting barriers to separate countries and peoples”.
Delta, the enigma
The second central theme was the Delta variant in Argentina, prompted by a question from journalist Emilia Vexler. In this regard, Aldhigieri clarified that the decrease in cases – despite Delta – is not exclusive to Argentina.
What would be the explanation? A possible combination of under-recording of cases in the different waves, added to the genomic peculiarities of the dominant variants (Gamma and Lambda, mainly), which could create a “wall”, ie seize the local epidemiological niche.
In fact, Aldhigieri spoke of the “significant transmission peaks in Argentina“He hypothesized that” the intense anterior circulation of many variants, including Gamma, generated cross protection, which somewhat halt the expansion of Delta “, and suggested to take into account” the immune aspects in the region “, that is to say the vaccination advance: “Argentina is raising its immunization coverage above 47%”.
The Nation’s Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti. Photo Government of Tierra del Fuego.
But, although he noticed that the distribution of this variant in the southern cone was “slower”, he warned that “it is very likely that in a few weeks Delta is predominant in more countries in the region ”.
Biden and Sinovac
The other questions addressed were the problem of unequal access to vaccines (for which they underlined their opposition to the administration of third doses) and the announcement (already reported a week ago) of the impetus that PAHO will give in terms of technology transfer for Argentina and the United States. Brazil to produce vaccines mRNA platform for the region.
In addition, from the start of the meeting, Etienne sent a “friendly” but precise message (almost a “checkedOne might say) to Joe Biden, President of the United States, just after celebrating the President’s announcement of an upcoming donation of 500 million doses.
“We have the capacity to rapidly increase support, so we urge countries to don’t delay donations because many lives depend on it, ”he said.
Vaccination campaign against the coronavirus in the province of Mendoza. Photo: Orlando Pelichotti / Los Andes
Speaking of doses en route, Barbosa also confirmed the signing of a PAHO contract with vaccine developers. Sinovac, which will be marketed through the Covax revolving fund.
“We are negotiating with all producers who have an emergency use authorization, since the revolving fund can only receive vaccines from them. From now on, we are in a position to conclude with Sinovac, which offers 8.5 million doses for this year and more than 80 million by 2022 ”, he specified.
From this precision, a silent allusion to the vaccines that they cannot buy, since they themselves did not authorize them, Sputnik and Cansino, for example. This is an inconclusive process which, at least in the case of the Russian vaccine, appears to respond to the well-known “informational neglect” of developers, and geopolitical pressures of a magnitude difficult to estimate.
Anyway, Barbosa announced, without too much detail, that they are “in advanced negotiations – to sign perhaps next week – with other producers who donated vaccines for the last quarter of 2021 and for 2022. This is open to all countries wishing to participate ”.
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