By Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO.

Ten months after the first vaccine for COVID-19 was authorized for use by the WHO, most
people in the Americas remain at risk.

We must face the daunting reality that the overreliance on imported health products –
including lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines – has left this region vulnerable. We cannot wait for the next health emergency to act, as ending this dependency will require long-term planning, investment and, above all, collaboration.

Despite the pervasive inequality within and across countries, our region has achieved high
coverage of routine childhood vaccines, which have saved lives and secured a chance of a
better future for several generations. The Americas was the first region in the world to
eliminate rubella, to eradicate smallpox and to be declared polio-free.

Yet, during the worst pandemic in a century, we are struggling to secure enough vaccines to protect our people and though 41% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean has been immunized, coverage remains very low in the poorest areas of our region. Why has access to COVID-19 vaccine been so different?

Simply put, there are not enough vaccines available, and the ones that are, have not been
equitably distributed. Nations with more resources, or with established manufacturing capacity, secured the lion’s share of vaccines for their people, while the rest of the world must wait. This delay cost countless lives around the world, but especially in economically stratified regions like ours.

We have no option but to close this gap. Vaccine donations remain critical, but we need to look elsewhere for long-term solutions.

That is why the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is championing an ambitious new program to expand vaccine manufacturing capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean, where vaccine availability has been very uneven. It builds on the proven expertise of our institutions and the strengths of our scientific community.

As a first step, a private company in Argentina and a public institute in Brazil were selected as hubs to develop and produce vaccines using cutting-edge mRNA technology.

The mRNA initiative is just one part of a broader platform that aims to serve the needs of the entire region, by linking capacity across countries to produce different components of the pharmaceutical supply chain. No single nation has the means to transform the current
landscape on their own. We must align around a shared plan and coordinated investments to make the Americas more self-sufficient.

It is not enough to act during this emergency. Expanding manufacturing and bringing vaccines closer to where they are needed require lasting commitment from governments across our region, and the active engagement of global funding partners.

It also requires that the few companies that hold the required technical knowledge and patents are prepared to share these to help diversify global production of vaccines and medicines.

Failure to do so, will keep the world struggling with insufficient output for months and,
possibly, years to come.

The upcoming G20 summit is a crucial opportunity to embrace this vision and secure it with
strong financial and technical commitments.

We can only succeed if countries in the Americas work together to locally produce the tools
that can get us out of this pandemic and leave us better prepared for the next.

COVID-19 has shown that there is no pathway for recovery while our neighbors continue at risk.

Science and innovation that remains out of reach will not protect us. Solidarity and self-reliance in vaccine production will.

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The Ministry of Health has donated 2,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Grenada following a request from the Ministry of Health in Grenada. The vaccines were shipped today. The following is a press release from the Ministry of Health:

The Ministry of Health wishes to advise that following a request from the Ministry of Health, Grenada sent via the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, that 2,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine have been shipped today Monday November 1, 2021.

Trinidad and Tobago is ready and willing to play its part in the regional collaborative approach to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. It should be noted that between May and June 2021 Trinidad and Tobago received a donation of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Grenada, which supported our vaccination effort.

Individual, Community level and global partnerships are required to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and so, whenever possible, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will continue to provide assistance to other territories.

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Nov 2 (Reuters) – Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Japan eases COVID-19 border curbs

Japan on Tuesday confirmed plans to gradually ease COVID-19 border restrictions, but fell short of calls from business lobbies to open up the country in line with its major trading partners. While a shorter quarantine would be welcome, it would only benefit business travellers and Japanese nationals, said Michael Mroczek, president of the European Business Council in Japan. The bigger issue is the remaining hold on long-term visas.

COVID-19 cases have fallen dramatically in Japan as the nation’s vaccination rate has pushed past 70% of the population. New infections in Tokyo fell to 9 on Monday, down from more than 5,000 a day during a wave in August driven by the infectious Delta variant. read more

Restrictions in Sydney to ease weeks ahead of schedule

Australia’s biggest city will lift more COVID-19 curbs for vaccinated residents ahead of schedule next week, while delaying freedoms it has promised for unvaccinated Sydneysiders as officials aim to boost inoculations.

Vaccinated people in the harbour city of around 5 million will be allowed unlimited numbers of guests in their homes from Nov. 8. Pubs and clubs will also be able to accommodate more guests and reopen dance floors, in changes that were initially planned to come into force on Dec. 1. read more

White House says 15 mln shots will roll out to children

The United States is rolling out Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 this week, but most of the 15 million shots being shipped initially are unlikely to be available before next week, the White House said on Monday.

Millions of doses specifically formulated for children of that age group will start arriving at distribution centers over the next few days, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said, and the federal government has purchased enough supply for all eligible 28 million children. read more

As mandate kicks in, ranks of unvaccinated NY police, firefighters dwindle

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared his coronavirus vaccination order for emergency responders a success on Monday, with no disruption to city services, despite a sickout by some firefighters who officials said were protesting the mandate.

The New York mandate prompted several thousand uniformed workers, including emergency medical services and sanitation employees, to get the required minimum first shot by the Friday afternoon deadline, and more than 3,500 others to do so over the weekend, de Blasio said. read more

Amazon lifts mask mandate for fully vaccinated U.S. warehouse workers

Amazon.com Inc will not require fully vaccinated U.S. warehouse employees to wear masks at work from Tuesday unless mandated by state or local law, a source familiar with the matter said.

Amazon’s decision comes just before the crucial holiday season, for which it has been hiring thousands of hourly workers by offering them sign-up bonuses in a tight job market. read more

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St. Kitts is welcoming vaccinated travelers with a new Winter Escape Promotion, giving families the option to receive a free night or two nights when they stay at one of three participating resorts.

St. Kitts is the larger island that comprises the nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Most notable historically as the birthplace of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, the island offers a rich history and is a burgeoning cruise and tourism destination, offering beautiful ocean views, tropical rainforests and, of course, beaches.

Travelers can choose to hike around a dormant volcano, visit the Caribelle Batik factory and the UNESCO-designated Brimstone Hill Fortress Park to learn more about the island’s history and culture.

The Winter Escape Promotion offers a fifth night free when vaccinated guests book four nights at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour or the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino. Guests to these resorts will also receive free daily breakfast for two.

When guests stay at the third resort, the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Hotel, they can stay seven nights but only pay for five. The resort offers suites with full kitchens.

The offer is valid for bookings until December 15, 2021, for travel through April 30, 2022.

Travelers can reach St. Kitts through connecting flights from the airports in Atlanta, Miami, New York/JFK, San Juan and Charlotte.

To learn more about the resorts and this promotion, please click here.

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Washington, DC: On September 13, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with St. Kitts and Nevis, aimed mainly at the economic effect the pandemic has had on the Federation.

St. Kitts and Nevis entered the Covid-19 pandemic from a position of fiscal strength following nearly a decade of budget surpluses. A significant part of the large CBI revenues was prudently saved, reducing public debt below the regional debt target of 60 percent of GDP and supporting accumulation of large government deposits.

Prompt government action helped contain the pandemic’s public health impact. At the onset of the pandemic the government swiftly restricted inbound travel, introduced a month-long national lockdown, and procured protective and medical equipment. The reopening of borders at end-October 2020 has been accompanied by strict safety protocols. The response measures effectively mitigated the pandemic’s human cost, with St. Kitts and Nevis having had the lowest per capita case count in the Western Hemisphere and no mortalities in 2020.

But the impact on the economy has been severe. The complete halt in cruise ship arrivals and very few stayover tourists since the first quarter of 2020 compounded on the pandemic’s impact on domestic activity. The pandemic resulted in an estimated annual decline in GDP of 14 percent, and the general government’s first fiscal deficit (4.7 percent of GDP) since 2010, financed by drawing down sizeable deposit buffers.

An expected rebound in tourism sets the stage for a strong recovery from 2022 onward, but risks to the outlook remain significant. Following a loss of the 2020–21 winter tourism season and slow resumption of tourism inflows to date, staff projects a small further decline in GDP of 1 percent in 2021, followed by 10 percent growth in 2022.

However, the recovery path could be derailed should the pandemic lead to further sustained disruptions on the anticipated pace of tourism recovery and domestic activity. Other risks include financial sector uncertainties, natural disasters, and lower-than-expected CBI receipts.

Executive Board Assessment [2]

Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They noted that St. Kitts and Nevis entered the COVID-19 pandemic from a position of fiscal strength and commended the authorities’ prompt and effective policy response, which has helped contain the pandemic’s economic and health impact.

Directors agreed that, in the near term, the key policy priorities are containing the pandemic and supporting the economic recovery. In particular, they emphasized that reaching herd immunity through vaccination is the chief priority to save lives and livelihoods.

Directors agreed that fiscal relief measures should be kept in place until the recovery firmly takes root. They noted that robust levels of public investment would further support economic activity.

Given the small economy’s susceptibility to natural disasters and dependance on tourism and volatile revenues from the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program, Directors concurred that once the recovery is firmly established, the government should resume saving part of the CBI revenues to rebuild fiscal buffers, which will also provide additional fiscal space to mitigate contingent and long-term fiscal pressures.

Directors agreed on the need to preserve the stability of the financial system by increasingly focusing on building readiness to exit the temporary support measures. They recommended reviewing and formalizing crisis management plans, containing risks in the systemic bank, strengthening supervision of non-banks, developing a more robust plan to divest unsold lands, and pursuing reforms to facilitate asset recovery.

While commending the authorities for promoting financial integrity, securing correspondent banking relationships, establishing CBI program safeguards and bolstering the AML/CFT and tax cooperation frameworks, Directors called for further efforts in these areas.

Directors encouraged structural reforms that raise productivity growth, economic competitiveness, and human capital. In this regard, they particularly welcomed the authorities’ agenda to diversify energy sources and channel CBI revenues into other sectors besides tourism and for infrastructure that protects against natural disasters.

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 The annual Interdenominational Service for Remembrance Day will be held on Sunday, 14th November, 2021, at the War Memorial in Charlestown at 8:00 a.m.

The general public is advised that due to the regulations currently in force to prevent community spread of the coronavirus which causes the COVID-19 illness, only armed units and persons who have been invited to represent their organisations are expected to attend this service.

The service will commence with a two-minute period of silence signalled by the firing of a gun at 8:00 a.m.

 All persons, whether attending the service or not, are asked to observe this moment by keeping the silence which includes the halting of all vehicular traffic.

 The NIA appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all.

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Migrants rest as they take part in a caravan heading to Mexico City, in Nuevo Milenio Valdivia, Mexico November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

MAPASTEPEC, Mexico, Nov 1 (Reuters) – A caravan of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers from Central America and the Caribbean resumed its trek through southern Mexico on Monday, despite concerns that half of them could be injured or sick, including some from dengue fever.

Over the past week, the approximately 3,000 migrants, mostly women and children, have trekked over 100 km (60 miles) from the city of Tapachula on the Guatemalan border, struggling through sweltering heat and evening rains.

Kabir Sanchez, a volunteer doctor helping to look after injured caravan members, said he and his colleagues treated dozens of people on Saturday with foot injuries, respiratory problems, infections and pregnant women at risk of miscarrying.

“More than 50% of the people in the caravan are sick,” he told Reuters by telephone.

He said other caravan members had possible cases of coronavirus, but that the government had not provided COVID-19 tests.

The government’s National Migration Institute (INM) did not immediately reply to a request for comment on COVID-19 testing.

The INM did say in a statement that six people in the caravan, including five children, had contracted dengue.

On Sunday night, the caravan members slept outside in the rain having paused their trek during the day due to the health concerns.

Most of the migrants are fleeing poverty, violence and the impact of adverse environmental conditions linked to climate change in their homelands. Many hope to make it to the U.S. border.

Leaders of the caravan last week rejected the Mexican government’s offer of visas that are meant to grant migrants access to healthcare and regular work, arguing it had failed to keep promises to help them in the past. read more

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