Argentina donates 1.8 million Covid vaccines to African, Asian and Caribbean nations
Argentina has donated around 1.8 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses - produced jointly with Mexico - over the past ten days, according to the nation's Health Ministry.
Vietnam was the first to receive an Argentine vaccine donation: 500,000 doses on November 24th.
Since then, donations have been shipped to Mozambique (450,000), Kenya (400,000), Angola (350,000), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (42,000), and Barbados (30,000).
While Vietnam has 71 million of its 98 million people with at least one dose, the other countries listed have vaccinated just 18 million of their 122 million people.
Authorities from the Philippines have likewise expressed interest; the Asian country has 40 million of its 111 million vaccinated thus far.
Health Minister Carla Vizzotti noted that "in less than a year, Argentina went from receiving the first vaccines to now having enough stock for third doses and to donate to other countries."
After a slow start earlier this year, Argentina how has 90% of its adult population with at least one dose - as well as 5 out of 8 children aged 3 to 17.
At: https://www-lavoz-com-ar.translate.goog/mundo/argentina-dona-vacunas-a-angola-kenia-y-el-caribe-oriental-por-reciprocidad-internacional/?_x_tr_sl=la&_x_tr_tl=es&_x_tr_hl=en-US
Argentine Health Minister Carla Vizzotti and Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero inspect a shipment of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines bound for Mozambique, where just 20% of its 32 million people have received at least one dose.
"Until every country has access to the vaccine, we won't be able to turn the page on this pandemic," Vizzotti noted.
She responded to local critics of the donation policy by recalling that "Argentina received almost 7 million doses of donated vaccines."
