Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr Carissa Etienne says accelerating access to vaccines will be the key to protecting populations against Omicron, particularly the most vulnerable.
Omicron, which was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, has been confirmed in the Americas, including the Caribbean island of Bermuda.
“The arrival of a new variant doesn’t necessarily mean that things will be worse, but it does mean that we must be extra vigilant,” Dr Eitenne said at a media briefing, urging for continued vaccination and public health measures.
Over 782,000 new COVID infections and 10,950 deaths were reported in the Americas last week, yet just 55 per cent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have been fully vaccinated. In some countries, including Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, and here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, coverage remains much lower.
