PAHO: Venezuela, Haiti reject AstraZeneca vaccines

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday said that Haiti and Venezuela have rejected AstraZeneca vaccines provided through COVAX program, and in case of Haiti, those doses could be given to anor country.

Venezuela has said it stands by its decision to not authorize use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine in country.

"re isn't a specific vaccine request (from Venezuela). However, it's vaccine (AstraZeneca) that is available soonest possible," said Ciro Ugarte, PAHO's Director of Health Emergencies during a media briefing.

In case of Haiti, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO's Assistant Director, said Caribbean nation is part of countries that would receive COVID-19 vaccines for free through COVAX scheme.

Dr. Barbosa said y have been working with Haiti to ensure re's a vaccination plan as part of condition to receive COVAX vaccines, but government has informed m y would not receive AstraZeneca vaccines.

"re's not a possibility to have an option for anor vaccine in...countries that are supported (referring to countries that would receive free vaccines as part of COVAX program)," he said. "If country confirms that y will not receive vaccines, what happens is that those doses that are alrey reserved for Haiti will be assigned to or participating countries."

He said y are currently working with Haiti to provide m with safety data as well as recommendations and recommendations from OMS, European Medicines Agency (EMA), so Haiti can make a decision to receive vaccines.

Haiti currently doesn't have a single vaccine to offer its more than 11 million people over a year after pandemic began, raising concerns among health experts that well-being of Haitians is being pushed aside as violence and political instability across country deepen.

Haiti's lack of vaccines comes as it reports more than 12,800 cases and more than 250 deaths, numbers that experts believe are underreported.

While Venezuela has received doses of Russian Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine, it has grappled with an increase in virus cases which has brought a record number of COVID-19 patients into hospitals.

government has partially attributed rise to a virus variant which scientists believe originated in neighboring Brazil and is more infectious.

According to recent figures from Johns Hopkins University data, Venezuela has reported more than 176,900 infections and 1,815 deaths.