The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday it is in advanced talks with vaccine makers to buy additional COVID shots for its member states to complement bilateral deals, donations, and doses they are receiving via the COVAX mechanism.
PAHO has reached an agreement with Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac, and is expecting to sign new accords soon to buy vaccines with emergency use listing approval from other suppliers for 2021 and 2022.
The agreement with Sinovac is to buy 8.5 million vaccine doses for 2021 and some 80 million doses next year, said PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa.
