In the Caribbean, Barbados is reporting the highest number of COVID cases π¦ and deaths since the pandemic started, following a five-fold increase in COVID infections over the last month π
But that is not the reality everywhere. In far too many places, coverage is much lower β¬οΈ
Today I want to spotlight those countries π in our region that are lagging and that will require special attention to meet this 40% vaccination target.
Six countries in our region have yet to reach 20% of their populations: These are Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Haiti in the Caribbean, and Guatemala and Nicaragua in Central America.
Weβre working hard to accelerate vaccine deliveries π¦ to our region β including COVAX-procured and donated doses β especially for countries where coverage remains low β¬οΈ
Weβve also been glad to see countries π within our region pitch in to support their neighbors by sharing doses so we can make the most of available supplies.
As more vaccine doses π¦ are making their way to our region, we urge countries to make the necessary preparations so these doses can be used as quickly as possible.
Based on the lessons from across our region, we know that the success of vaccination π campaigns rests on having the infrastructure in place to roll out doses at scale.
Health workers are trusted sources of information for patients, so we encourage countries to train their health work force at all levels, so they have all the information they need to answer patientsβ questions and help them understand the benefits of π
Thanks to the generous support of Germany and the European Union, Belize has been able to promote COVID vaccines π in public spaces where people gather, such as bus terminals and markets.
We have seen how stipends β even small ones for food π and transport π β can help incentivize campaigns in rural and remote areas, where travel to vaccination sites can be a challenge.
In Bolivia, door-to-door πͺ campaigns by community leaders have helped boost coverage among rural communities, and small cash transfers have also helped incentivize more pregnant women π€°π½ to get vaccinated.
These and other tailored strategies will be key to reaching those we havenβt yet reached β not just in the countries where coverage remains low, but in every corner of our region π
Low β¬οΈ vaccination coverage leaves us all at risk.
So, we must work together and support each other so that every country in the Americas π can reach or surpass the 40% vaccination coverage target by the end of the year.
COVID infections π¦ are accelerating across North America, where routine surveillance has confirmed that the β³οΈ Delta variant has become the dominant strain based on the variant of concern sequences reported over the past month.
Cases and deaths continue to rise in Canada π¨π¦, Mexico π²π½, and the United States πΊπΈ, as adherence to public health measures relaxes, the Delta variant π¦ circulates, and vaccination π coverage varies within countries.
COVID infections π¦ are accelerating in North America, driven primarily by a surge in cases in the southern and eastern United States πΊπΈ and in central Mexico π²π½
More and more, disease trends are showing a region divided by vaccine π access.
In countries π with adequate vaccine supply π¦, infections are decreasing π; in places where vaccine coverage is still low, infections remain highπ
As of this week, our region π reported nearly 74 million cases and 1.9 million deaths from COVID-19 π¦ , accounting for more than a third of COVID cases and more than 40% of deaths reported worldwide this week.
And while new cases are down β¬οΈ nearly 20% from last week, many countries β including the U.S. πΊπΈβ are seeing a resurgence of infections π¦