Addressing the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Region of the Americas Highlights of PAHO Technical Cooperation January – March 2022

(U.S. Government funds through the American Rescue Plan Act 2021. Resources provided through the U.S. Department of State Voluntary Account)

More than two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of the Americas continues to be its epicenter. In February 2022, COVID-19 morbidity was still higher in the Americas than in any other WHO region, resulting in the loss of 2.7 million people in the Americas by March 2022. The Region also continues to account for a disproportionate number of COVID-19 infections. While the Americas make up 13% of the global population, it has reported 30.6% of total cases worldwide and 43.8% of deaths.1 At the same time, vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been uneven. By March 2022, 66.5% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean had been vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least two doses, and 14 countries and territories had immunized 70% of their populations. However, another 14 countries had yet to reach 40% coverage.