According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa, about 44 percent of persons in Latin America and the Caribbean have finished their Covid-19 vaccines, due primarily to contributions.

Dr. Barbosa stated at PAHO's weekly press conference on the effect of the pandemic in the Americas that Guatemala, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Haiti had vaccinated fewer than 20% of their populations.

The good news is that over three million doses will be sent to South American countries via the Covax framework, and shipments will resume in the latter months of the year, according to Barbosa.

With a few exceptions, Covid-19 infections and deaths have decreased across America, according to Barbosa, who also reported that Belize is now dealing with an uptick in coronavirus mortality, and Paraguay has seen an increase in the previous week.

Some Caribbean nations, including St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Anguilla, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are currently seeing their first pandemic peaks, with the greatest Covid-19 cases and deaths.

Countries must continue to undertake public health measures to manage epidemics, including wearing face masks, social distance, and restricting big gatherings, especially because many are still trying to increase vaccine coverage, said Barbosa.