Latin America Advisor

Erika Mouynes, Panama’s minister of foreign affairs: “Vaccine inequality threatens to amplify the effects of the pandemic. If wealthy countries continue to buy disproportionate amounts of vaccines, up to seven or 10 times the needs of their populations until 2023, regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean—the hardest hit from the pandemic, with more casualties per capita than any other region—will not be able to recover. For countries left entirely dependent on donations to immunize their citizens, the future will be dark for years to come. We are approaching a very dangerous tipping point. There are purchase agreements that leave middle- and low-income countries with few options to timely access vaccines against the new virus. They have been left alone to their own diplomatic devices and wealthy countries’ welfare. Some countries have signed deals with the…”