2. Local vaccine development and production

Map I.1 Latin America and the Caribbean: vaccination scenarios and year in which 70% of the population could be fully vaccinated

End-2021–mid-2022 2023 Mid-2022–End-2022

Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Note: The boundaries and names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Although there were vaccine development projects at the preclinical stage in some countries at the end of August 2021, only Cuba, Brazil and Mexico had projects in clinical trials (see annex 3.1 for details).

The facilities with the most advanced research were the Finlay Institue of Vaccines (IFV) and the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), both in Cuba. Three of the five vaccines under development, Abdala and Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus, were in phase III clinical trials and approved for emergency use. As of 1 September 2021, more than 14.1 million doses had been administered. Although the country’s strength lies in its expertise in research and production of vaccines and biotech drugs, it is not without its difficulties, including limited access to external resources and to other countries to widen its clinical trials. Nevertheless, progress has been made: the Abdala vaccine has entered the approval process in Mexico, and on 31 August received a ruling in favour from the New Molecules Committee of the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), which is the first step in the process of approval for emergency use. IFV has also reached an agreement with the Pasteur Institute of Iran to conduct clinical trials of Soberana 02, under the name Pasteur, in that country.

In addition, a vaccine is being developed in Brazil (Butantan Institute) and Mexico (Avimex) in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Texas. Mexico’s Patria vaccine is in a phase I clinical trial and Brazil’s ButanVac is in a combined phase I/II trial.