PAHO secures agreement to reserve pandemic influenza vaccines for Latin America and Caribbean
The Pan American Health Organization has signed what it described as a landmark agreement with CSL Seqirus to reserve a portion of pandemic influenza vaccine supplies for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the event of a future global influenza outbreak. The agreement, announced Monday in Washington, establishes a mechanism that sets aside […] The post PAHO secures agreement to reserve pandemic influenza vaccines for Latin America and Caribbean appeared first on CNW Network.
Black News 
The Pan American Health Organization has signed what it described as a landmark agreement with CSL Seqirus to reserve a portion of pandemic influenza vaccine supplies for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in the event of a future global influenza outbreak.
The agreement, announced Monday in Washington, establishes a mechanism that sets aside a fixed percentage of the company’s global pandemic influenza vaccine production for participating PAHO member states.
Participating countries will be able to access an initial allocation of vaccines during a pandemic emergency.
“This agreement is a direct response to the hard lessons of COVID-19 and a major step forward in strengthening health security and pandemic preparedness across the Americas,” said Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO.
“Through our Regional Revolving Funds, countries are joining forces to secure a reserved share of vaccine production, helping protect those at risk when it matters most,” Barbosa added.
Under the arrangement, CSL Seqirus will oversee the development of pandemic influenza vaccines while also supporting technology transfer initiatives based on its experience in influenza research and large-scale vaccine manufacturing.
Part of the production process will take place in Argentina through a collaboration with Sinergium Biotech, a move aimed at strengthening regional manufacturing capacity and improving supply chain resilience.
“This agreement puts pandemic preparedness best practices into action, bringing together reserved doses, regional manufacturing capability, and a long-term public-private commitment,” said David Ross, executive vice president and general manager of CSL Seqirus.
“We’re proud to establish this kind of partnership in Latin America and the Caribbean for the first time,” Ross added.
Alejandro Gil, president and CEO of Sinergium Biotech, said the agreement builds on years of collaboration with PAHO and CSL Seqirus.
“The infrastructure and human resource capacities developed at Sinergium over the past 15 years now enable us to guarantee countries in the region access to quality products to respond to future pandemics,” Gil said.
PAHO said the agreement was finalized following an international competitive procurement process and year-long negotiations. Officials said it is designed to reduce delays in obtaining vaccines during a public health emergency, when global demand and competition for supplies typically intensify.
The organization noted that middle-income countries have historically faced disadvantages in accessing vaccines during global crises. By pooling demand through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean can negotiate collectively and secure more equitable access to supplies.
According to PAHO, vaccine doses will be allocated based on epidemiological evidence and public health risk, with priority given to vulnerable populations.
Barbosa said the agreement marks a major shift in how the region prepares for future pandemics.
“For the first time, countries of the Americas are positioning themselves on more equal footing in a future global health emergency—not as individual markets, but as a region,” he said.
PAHO also warned that preparedness remains critical as avian influenza and other zoonotic diseases continue to emerge globally. The organization noted that influenza viruses remain among the most likely causes of future pandemics.
The post PAHO secures agreement to reserve pandemic influenza vaccines for Latin America and Caribbean appeared first on CNW Network.
