BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) – The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for the whole of Latin America will be jointly produced by Argentina and Mexico, said Argentine President Alberto Fernandez on Wednesday. This comes after a meeting with company executives who are involved in the project.
As per the agreement inked between UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and biotechnology firm mAbxience of the INSUD Group, there will be transfer of technology to produce 150 million doses for the whole of Latin America, except Brazil.
“Latin American production will be handled in Argentina and Mexico and that will allow timely and efficient access for all countries in the region,” Fernandez said.
The deal had been pushed by Fernandez and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said Mexico Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, adding that the output of the shot could be extended to 250 million doses.
The second-largest pharma company in the UK, AstraZeneca has long had a presence in Argentina. It inked a deal with the foundation headed by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim to produce the vaccine, which is slated to be delivered in the first half of 2021, pending Phase III studies and regulatory approvals.
Thanking Slim Foundation for funding the production of the vaccine, Ebrard said more details would be announced on Thursday.
Arturo Elias of Slim said a “very significant” sum was being invested in the scheme.
Fernandez said the deal “gives Argentina the peace of mind of being able to have the vaccine when required and at a reasonable price.”
Argentina, which has recorded more than 5,000 coronavirus fatalities, witnessed a record daily number of infections on Wednesday with 7,663 new cases. Mexico has 55,000 deaths and half a million cases.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field