Mexico shipped more than one million AstraZeneca vaccines to Argentina, Belize, Bolivia and Paraguay over the weekend in the first batch of locally produced vaccines.
Mexico dispatched 811 thousand vaccines to Argentina, while Bolivia Y Paraguay they received 150 thousand each and Belice100,000, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Relations tweeted on Saturday.
The vaccines are the first of up to 250 million doses that Mexico and Argentina have pledged to produce locally for neighboring countries with the backing of billionaire Carlos Slim’s foundation. The vaccines were expected in the first quarter of the year, but faced delays in the production and certification processes. The shipments are one of the first signs of vaccine diplomacy in the region after Chile donated 40,000 vaccines from Sinovac to Paraguay and Ecuador in March.
“It begins today, with the support of the Mexican Air Force, the shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by Mexico, as president of CELAC, to Latin American and Caribbean countries”, tweeted on June 12, the country’s Secretary of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard, in reference to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. “This time [van a] Belize, Bolivia and Paraguay. Next days to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador ”.
By virtue of agreement, the biotechnology company mAbxience produced the active principle in Argentina, while Laboratorios Liomont completed the formulation in Mexico.
Liomont has produced the first 1.6 million doses so far, He said last week a Mexican official; half of them will remain in Mexico, while the rest will be sent to neighboring countries.
They thank Mexico and AMLO
Latin American leaders and leaders thanked Mexico and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for sending vaccines to their respective countries.
The President of Paraguay, Marito Abdo, tweeted on his social networks: “The Republic of Paraguay appreciates the cooperation of the Mexican government and the President @lopezobrador_”.
Alberto Fernández, Argentine president, highlighted that Argentina already has more than 20 million doses of vaccines, after the arrival of 934,200 doses of AstraZeneca produced in conjunction with Mexico.
“Vaccination is the gateway to life. This way we will overcome the pandemic and we will grow again creating jobs throughout the country ”, he assured.
The government of Belize also thanked President López Obrador for sending vaccines, as did the former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales.
To the brother president of #Mexico, @lopezobrador_ our respect and admiration for their humanity and solidarity.
We thank you for donating vaccines against #COVID19.
The Bolivian people will never forget this generosity.– Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) June 14, 2021
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