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(Adds comments by PAHO directors, case numbers, U.S. donation)
BRASILIA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The number of new COVID-19
infections has been dropping over the past month throughout the
Americas, even though only 37% of the people in Latin America
and the Caribbean are fully vaccinated, the Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday.
In the last week, 1.2 million people were confirmed with
COVID-19 in the region, down from 1.5 million new cases the
previous week.
Alaska has the most serious current outbreak in the United
States, overwhelming emergency rooms, and Mexico is reporting a
jump in new cases, the health agency said.
And while South America is continuing to see a drop in
infections, Chile has had a surge in cases in the capital
Santiago and port cities Coquimbo and Antofagasta.
PAHO also said it has closed vaccine supply agreements with
Sinovac Biotech Inc and AstraZeneca Plc for the
delivery of 8.5 million doses this year, and with China's
Sinopharm Group for next year.
Jamaica, Nicaragua and Haiti have yet to reach even 10%
vaccination coverage, PAHO said.
"We must focus our attention to close this gap as quickly as
possible," PAHO Director Carissa Etienne told reporters in a
weekly briefing in which she urged countries with surplus
vaccine doses to share them with countries in the region to save
lives.
PAHO is doing all it can to speed up vaccination in the
region, by delivering doses through COVAX - the World Health
Organization co-led vaccine access program - by supporting
donations and by direct purchases of vaccines through its
revolving fund, Etienne said.
In the past week, 875,000 vaccine doses arrived in countries
in Latin America and the Caribbean, though that is still not
enough to protect the population, she added.
The United States is donating 4 million vaccine doses to the
Caribbean, PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa said.
Barbosa said donations are badly needed because COVAX will
not be able to meet its target of providing doses for 20% of the
population of Latin America and the Caribbean by the end of this
year.
He blamed manufacturers for the COVAX delays, saying they
preferred to produce for clients who pay more for the shots.
(Reporting by Anthony Boadle
Editing by Bill Berkrot)
