Nearly 50% of LatAm Adults Need to Get Second Jab: PAHO

Almost half of the adult population in Latin America and the Caribbean is yet to get fully vaccinated, although more than a year has passed after the world developed a vaccine against the coronavirus.

The vaccination rate is much lower in countries such as Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent, and Grenada, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 

The agency went on to say that Omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus first found in South Africa, had already reached six countries in the region.

“The arrival of a new variant doesn’t necessarily mean that things will be worse, but it does mean that we must be extra-vigilant,” stated PAHO’s Director Carissa F. Etienne.

Considering her comments, over 1.6 million doses of vaccines are expected to arrive in the region this week.

The Americas reported more than 782,655 new COVID infections and 10,950 deaths in the first week of this month. There has been an uptick in the number of new cases in parts of Mexico, as well as Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia.

The Caribbean, the Cayman Islands and Trinidad & Tobago have continued to experience a significant increase in COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

However, there has been a steady decline in infections in Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina, as well as most parts of Central America.