AS/COA Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Collaboration in the Americas
AS/COA Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Collaboration in the Americas
It is in the United States’ national interest to provide vaccines to Western Hemisphere countries, particularly Mexico, say AS/COA's chairman, chairmen emeriti, and president and CEO.
In order to finally overcome this deadly pandemic, we in the Western Hemisphere need to work together. We cannot solve this crisis in isolation. We will not conquer the pandemic if we don’t work with our neighbors to the south. We applaud the Biden administration’s stated goal to provide Mexico with 2.5 million vaccines, and we’d encourage prioritizing its northern states to receive them. We understand that it takes huge political courage at this time because we must prioritize getting all Americans vaccinated, however, we also know that very shortly the United States will have an excess supply as President Joe Biden has already promised that all U.S. adults will be eligible to receive a vaccine by May 1. As long as our hemispheric partners have a shortage of vaccines, there will be not only the tragedy of additional deaths, but also a risk of new variants. This will impede a return to normalcy in those countries and in the United States.
Providing vaccines to Mexico and elsewhere in our hemisphere is in our national interest and necessary for our health security—as well as for demonstrating our leadership and nurturing stronger ties with our neighbors.
William R. Rhodes, Chairman Emeritus, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
John D. Negroponte, Chairman Emeritus, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Andrés Gluski, Chairman, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
