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On the first anniversary of the pandemic in Latin America, “we are certainly not out of the woods”.
Washington DC, February 24, 2021 (PAHO) Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Carissa F. Etienne today described the Americas as the “epicenter” of the COVID-19 pandemic and called on the international community to restore regional access to vaccines. a global priority. “
The life-saving power of vaccines should not be a privilege for a few, but a right for all – especially countries most at risk like those in the Americas, which remain the epicenter of the pandemic. Our Region needs vaccines as soon as possible, and whenever possible, to save lives. “
(OPS) Director Carissa F. Etienne
Affirming that the Americas have been the region hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said “millions of people remain vulnerable to infection and death”. While 28 countries have started supplying COVID-19 vaccines through bilateral agreements with manufacturers or small donations from other countries, “this is not enough and it is not acceptable.”
In a promising development, countries receiving COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX – the global mechanism that works to ensure equitable access – will receive hundreds of thousands of doses over the next few weeks, she said.
PAHO’s Revolving Fund has led efforts on behalf of countries in the region to purchase vaccines through COVAX.
But “despite the steps taken to deliver the vaccines as quickly as possible, we are still far behind what we should be as a region,” said Dr Etienne. “This is why we are urging the global community to make COVID vaccination in the Americas a global priority because this is where the needs and risks are greatest.”
The first vaccine distributions provided by COVAX to countries in the region will cover approximately 2% to 2.5% of the population.
Dr Etienne celebrated the first anniversary of the first case of COVID-19 in Brazil, pointing out that more than 10 million Brazilians have since been infected and that the Americas have yet to turn the corner, with nearly 50 million in the Americas infected with the virus.
While substantial reductions in COVID-19 cases have been reported recently, this is largely due to an improvement in the United States, where cases and deaths are down 30% this week compared to last week. Meanwhile, pandemic conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean are mixed. Dr Etienne said: “… I want to stress that we are certainly not out of the woods.”
New cases have declined dramatically in Uruguay, where rapid implementation of public health measures brought down the record number of infections. In Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, the drop was smaller, with cases down around 4% this week compared to last week.
In many countries, the infection continues to increase. Peru is experiencing new epidemics along its Amazon border with Brazil and Colombia. In the Caribbean, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands are reporting an increase in new infections.
“To control the virus, we need to remain vigilant and committed to the public health measures that we know are effective, especially as new variants are circulating in the region and may increase the burden on our health systems,” said Dr Etienne. “This is why PAHO continues to monitor the spread of the virus in our region for any changes in transmission, and why countries must continue to practice social distancing, wear masks and avoid mass gatherings.”
Dr Etienne assured that the COVID vaccines purchased by COVAX are safe and effective. Vaccines – rigorously and extensively evaluated by the WHO and, in many cases, by national regulatory authorities – have been shown to significantly reduce the chances of severe symptoms.
“Thanks to the power of vaccines, our region has eliminated smallpox, polio, rubella and measles,” said Dr Etienne. “With COVID-19, it’s no different: Safe and effective vaccines will help us turn the tide of this pandemic, but only if we can reach the most vulnerable, no matter where they live or who they are. And we will still need to maintain the proven public health measures of testing, contact tracing, quarantine, physical distancing, hand hygiene and masks until the pandemic recedes.
Contacts
Daniel Epstein
Nancy nusser
Sebastien oliel
[email protected]
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