Canada, PAHO to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Supply in Latin America

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Government of Canada renewed their alliance to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The collaboration aims to support populations that have fallen behind in their vaccination programs due to lack of access to vaccines. 

Canada will provide US$33.4 million to PAHO, allowing the organization to continue its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second time the country has provided financial support. In May 2021, the Canadian government invested US$40 million to the same cause. Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica will receive almost a third of the new funds, as reported by PAHO.

"The pandemic is not over. Last month, the Region of the Americas reported more than 3.6 million new COVID-19 cases and 18,000 new deaths, a surge of 42% and 28% of cases and deaths, respectively," says Ciro Ugarte, Director of Health Emergencies, PAHO.

This is part of Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE). Besides boosting vaccine distribution, the program seeks to increase local vaccine production and increase public confidence in the safety of vaccines. Ugarte highlighted the importance of collaboration, as 203 million people in the region have not received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"I commend the Government of Canada for its continued support to PAHO and the countries in the region in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, building upon our joint efforts to achieve optimal health and contribute to the well-being of all the peoples of the Americas," says Ugarte.

Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development of Canada, called for the development of stronger healthcare systems across the region, as the COVID-19 virus keeps spreading. “Although we may wish we could turn the page on COVID-19 altogether, we know it is not that simple,” she says.

Mexico’s healthcare system has faced shortages of medical supplies in recent years. Experts agree that constant changes in public strategy and organizations have hampered an appropriate response to the growing demand. “The coordination between UNOPS, INSABI and the health institutions with logistics operators was completely inefficient, which resulted in supplies that could not be shipped from warehouses, and consequently in shortages in the health institutions,” writes Rafel Gual, Director General, CANIFARMA, for MBN.