EDITOR’S NOTE: The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified countries in the Americas that shipment of their COVID-19 vaccines, under the COVAX facility, would commence by the middle of this month. In the interim, alternate arrangements had already been made, or are being contemplated, with India.

In this issue, #HealthCaribbean examines two such arrangements. In one, Bharat Biotech, the company that produces the COVAXIN vaccine, has proposed to supply sufficient vaccines for Jamaica to vaccinate its entire population. In the second, India has gifted a limited quantity of Covishield vaccines to Barbados and Dominica. Barbados in turn shared a portion with Trinidad, and Guyana. Likewise, Dominica shared a portion with others in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

It may also be recalled from the first issue this month, that there had even been a proposal for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to procure vaccines through Africa. And, it is the recommendation of medical experts and economists alike that procurement through CARICOM is the preferred route. But like other matters, there has been no undertaking that CARICOM would be pursuing this unified approach.

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