Several countries in America have received the first shipments of vaccine in the last few weeks – not from the regional superpower or from the Western pharmaceutical giants, but from China, Russia and, in some cases, India.
Why does it matter: North and South America have been hit by the pandemic and recorded some of the highest death toll in the world. Few countries other than the US have the capacity to manufacture vaccines on a large scale and most do not have the resources to buy their way to the front line for imports. This has led to a struggle for whatever is available.
- Only Chile (17%), USA (15%), Barbados (12%), Canada (3%), Brazil (3%), Argentina (2%), Mexico (2%), Costa Rica (1%) and Panama managed to provide a first dose for at least 1% of their population.
News management: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador – who spoke out against the “accumulation” of vaccines by rich countries – was expected to ask President Biden in Monday’s virtual meeting to share some of the US vaccine supply with Mexico.
- Before the meeting, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the answer would be “no,” at least until all Americans have access.
- Canada, which bought more doses relative to its population than any other country but struggled to obtain them due to limited production capacity, received a similar response from Washington.
Game status: Other global powers have began transporting doses to the region. At least 10 Latin American countries have obtained the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia or are expected soon, while another 10 are waiting for doses from Sinovac or Sinopharm from China.
- Argentina was one of the first countries in the region to start launching, using Sputnik V, while Chile climbed to the top of the vaccination charts using a combination of Pfizer and Sinovac.
- Meanwhile, most of the doses that reached the Caribbean came from India, which has become a global player in vaccine distribution due to its massive production capacity. New Delhi has donated Oxford / AstraZeneca doses to countries including Barbados and Dominica.
- Israel has entered the game of small-scale “vaccine diplomacy” by sending 5,000 doses each to friendly governments in Guatemala and Honduras.
- Not worth anything: At least eight countries have signed bilateral agreements with Pfizer or AstraZeneca. Meanwhile, Cuba is using a homemade vaccine.
To enlarge: While Bolivia is negotiating the purchase of 5.2 million doses of Sputnik in December for $ 10 a fire, the government has also been in talks with Western pharmaceutical companies that “have told developing countries that we must wait until in June, “Commerce Minister Benjamin Blanco told Reuters.
- Bolivian President Luis Arce pumped his fist on the asphalt when the first Sputnik transport arrived. At the same time, he spoke with Vladimir Putin about potential joint energy projects.
- But while Psaki warned last month that Russia and China could use vaccines to increase leverage over other countries, Pfizer is accused of assaulting Latin American countries during negotiations.
Vaccines arriving from Russia and China are often received with great fanfare, with political leaders and handy TV cameras.
Yes but: Shipments are often quite small.
- Russia has so far provided Bolivia with 20,000 doses and Paraguay 4,000, enough to cover a fraction of 1% of their populations.
- Both Russia and China will face production capacity challenges to cover their own populations, let alone send doses around the world.
However, it deals with producing Sinovac and Sputnik vaccines in Brazil and Sputnik in Argentina should boost supply. Crucially, vaccines do not require ultra-cold temperatures.
- However, there are questions about the effectiveness, especially for Chinese vaccines. A study in Brazil found that the Sinovac vaccine was only 50.4% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, although it was more effective in preventing severe cases.
- And while both countries are clearly gaining diplomatic points, several polls have found that many in Latin America would be less willing to take a Russian or Chinese vaccine than a Western alternative.
What to look for: By this summer, the US and other rich countries will likely be ready to split doses internationally, significantly changing the image of vaccine diplomacy.
- The global COVAX initiative, which is crucial to the vaccination perspective in America, will also begin to increase distribution this month. It should quickly overtake Russia and China as the largest source of vaccines for many countries.
Bottom line: Moscow and Beijing may have gained goodwill and lasting influence in the region, intervening when vaccines were the rarest.