Where South America's race for coronavirus vaccines stands

“Latin American countries will vie for vaccines and medical supplies regardless of where they come from,” said Parsifal D’Sola, the founder and CEO of the Andres Bello Foundation, a think tank devoted to Chinese-Latin American relationships. “So far, developed nations have bought over 50% of the available vaccines, so Latin America will likely reach out to China and Russia to fill the void.”

The Coronavac, made by Chinese company Sinovac, is already part of large-scale distribution in Brazil. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines has been embraced by several countries including Argentina and Bolivia. But broadly, regional delivery of vaccines is messy and unequal with no coordinated approach, and it remains to be seen how the pandemic could shape future diplomatic relationship between South America and the rest of the world.

As Cynthia Arnson, Director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center policy forum in Washington, told CNN, South American countries “have rarely been so disunited and unable to forge common strategies.”

Here’s where their vaccination campaigns stand for now:

Argentina

The left-wing government of Alberto Fernandez was among the first in the world to secure orders of the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine.

In December, flag-carrier Aerolineas Argentinas live-tweeted a special flight to Moscow to pick up the first doses, a sign of how close the partnership with Russia is seen in Buenos Aires.

Argentina has also secured orders from other manufacturers for a total of almost 50 million doses, according to Duke University’s database of vaccine pre-purchase agreements.

All the vaccines dispensed so far have been from Russia.

Brazil

Brazil has been among the most-hit in the world by the coronavirus, and its vaccine saga has turned ugly with state governors criticizing the federal government for lack of coordination, and President Jair Bolsonaro casting doubt on vaccines.

Compared to its neighbors, Brazil has strong vaccine manufacturing capabilities. However, experts say the country fell behind in the race to purchase active ingredients to produce them.

Now, the country’s best hope is the Chinese Coronavac vaccine, an ironic outcome given Bolsonaro’s signs of hostility toward China. More than 2 million doses have already been dispensed in Brasil, by far the highest number in the region.

Bolivia

Bolivia experienced a change in power in November when left-wing President Luis Arce replaced Jeanine Añez.

While he awaits the first COVAX doses allotted to…

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Where South America's race for coronavirus vaccines stands

Argentina

Brazil

Bolivia

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