EDITOR’S NOTE: In our last edition (2021-04-22), #HealthCaribbean featured alternate sources of vaccine besides the Covax facility. Missing from that edition was any reference to vaccines from Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC). This edition focuses on LAC vaccines. Reference is made to four locations, namely: Cuba, Jamaica, Venezuela and Mexico.

Our headline, taken from the Jamaica Observer, reads: “PAHO Urges Region To Mobilise Production Of COVID-19 Vaccines”. Dr Carissa Etienne — Director, Pan American Health Organization — is quoted as saying: “We in this region will have to mobilise our production facilities and modernise the vaccine platform in the countries of the Americas.”

This is in contrast to Jamaican pharmacuetical distributors who have established connections with the makers of approved vaccines, such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson’s Jazzen, and would like the opportunity to participate in the vaccine program. Otherwise, there has been no comment from local pharmacuetical producers.

And, regional vaccines are presently undergoing clinical trials. Mexico’s Patria vaccine candidate is undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials which would be analyzed in April and May. All going well, the authorization for its emergency use is not expected to be completed before the end of 2021. Otherwise, Cuba has a number vaccines at various stages of clinical trials.

Cuba’s Finlay Vaccine Institute has plans to produce 100 million doses of its Soberana 02 vaccine for itself and countries such as Venezuela, Iran, Vietnam, Pakistan and India. Finally, Cuba’s Abadala vaccine is to be produced in Venezuela’s state-run laboratory for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, of which it is a member.

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