Coronavirus

Argentina puts pressure on AstraZeneca for inputs

Astrazeneca Vaccination has faced hiccups in Argentina. Photo: Instrumenta/Shutterstock
Vaccination has faced hiccups in Argentina. Photo: Instrumenta/Shutterstock

The Argentinian government met with representatives of British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca to report “difficulties” regarding vaccine production. The authorities question delays in the shipment of supplies.

In November 2020, Argentina and Mexico signed a deal with AstraZeneca to produce between 150 and 250 million vaccines to be used by both countries and distributed to neighboring nations. The immunizer’s active ingredient is produced in Argentina and sent for packaging in Mexico and the U.S., where the process is facing bottlenecks.

“We ask AstraZeneca’s representatives to report as soon as possible on the possible difficulties suffered by the vaccine production process,” Ms. Vizzotti said. 

While struggling to fulfill the production schedule agreed with AstraZeneca, the two countries desperately need vaccines. Argentina and Mexico have only managed to fully vaccinate 2 percent and 4.8 percent of their population, respectively.