Celebrating 120 Years of Solidarity in Advancing Health and Well-Being, Leaving No One Behind
As the specialized health agency for the Americas and the Regional Office of the World Health Organization, PAHO is providing essential leadership, coordination, and assistance to fight the spread of COVID-19, save lives, and protect the most vulnerable population groups—including health workers—in all 51 countries and territories of the Region.
© PAHO Brazil | 2022. Vaccination for prevention of influenza and measles. PHOTO: Karina Zambrana
The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge. Following decades of positive experience in forecasting and procuring vaccines and supplies from the Revolving Fund, The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) aligned with WHO and its partners to implement the COVAX Facility in the Americas. COVAX was the best way for PAHO’s Member States to access safe and effective doses equitably. COVAX doses arrived in Latin America in the first week of March 2021, only two months after high-income countries received and applied the first COVID-19 vaccine.
Latin America and the Caribbean need more vaccines now to save lives and prevent future waves. PAHO is working to make sure access to COVID-19 vaccines is guaranteed for every eligible person—regardless of their ethnicity, economic condition, gender, migratory status or whether they reside in a city or rural area—starting with the most vulnerable.
"Health is the concern of everyone: health is not the last car in the train... it is the locomotive that can lead us effectively on the track to development.”
Dr. Carlyle Guerra de Macedo
PAHO DIRECTOR 1983-1995
