COVID cases go down in America, but ‘significant gaps’ in ownership: PAHO | Coronavirus pandemic News

The head of the Pan American Health Organization says the decline in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is a “testimony” to the importance of vaccines.

While COVID-19 cases are generally declining Americas, The head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called for greater access to vaccines to fight infections and protect vulnerable networks across the region.

In a new statement released on Tuesday, OPS Director Carissa Etienne said coronavirus-related deaths have doubled in the Caribbean Bahamas, Haiti and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the past week.

Last week, PAHO said 1.2 million new coronavirus cases and 31,000 deaths were recorded in the region.

“Over the last month we have seen a decrease in COVID infections in the region, and we have offered some reassurance to our strengthened health systems,” Etienne said.

But he noted that the occupancy rate of intensive care units in some parts of Brazil and Colombia is about 90 percent, “a sign that these communities are still at high risk of not receiving the care they need.”

It’s been Brazil A hard blow to COVID-19According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 439,000 deaths were recorded, the second of which is in the United States alone.

However, Etienne said the most dramatic change has occurred in the US, with cases falling sharply as the country progresses in its vaccination campaign.

It has more than 60 percent of American adults received at least one shot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 73% of those over 65 are fully vaccinated.

“The advances we are seeing in the United States are a testament to the power of safe and effective COVID vaccines, but it underscores the key importance of accelerating access to vaccines in our region,” Etienne said.

More than 400 million coronabirus jabs have been administered in America, but the “lion’s share” has gone to the U.S., he said.

Etienne said there are “significant gaps” in access to Latin American and Caribbean vaccines that are a symptom of the country’s “excessive dependence” on imports that provide essential health supplies.

In the vaccination campaign for people over 50 in La Paz (Bolivia) people waiting for a shot of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in the courtyard of a public university. [Juan Karita/AP Photo]

“We need more urgent vaccinations for Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that has been there put to the test with this pandemic “.

Etienne said only 3 percent of Latin American people have been completely vaccinated and stressed the importance of increasing the region’s capacity to manufacture vaccines, rather than relying on the import of ingredients.

Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Cuba say manufacturing plants are well-located and well-equipped Create COVID-19 vaccines.

“Fortunately, we have a number of elements to achieve this: strong academic and research institutions, existing manufacturing capacity, strong regulatory systems, and an efficient procurement mechanism,” Etienne said.

Brazil he announced this week, it expects to receive enough COVID-19 vaccine components from China to manufacture 25 million doses from AstraZeneca and Sinovac owners.

In Argentina, when coronavirus infections are on the rise, the Reuters news agency reported that 18% of the population has received a jab so far, and only 4.5% of Argentines are completely inoculated.