MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico plans to import about 870,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine from India in February, in addition to producing it locally, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday.
Mexico and Argentina have an agreement with AstraZeneca to produce their vaccine for distribution in Latin America, with financial support from the foundation of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.
“We are also receiving vaccines from AstraZeneca, in addition to the agreement we have with them – these vaccines are being made here in Mexico – we will bring AstraZeneca from India,” said Lopez Obrador in a video broadcast on social networks.
Meanwhile, deliveries of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico would “most likely” resume on February 10, said Lopez Obrador, after delays in global delivery by the American company. Mexico expected about 1.5 million doses of Pfizer, he noted.
Mexico is trying to ensure as much vaccine supply as possible amid delays in delivery and an increase in cases. The death toll in Mexico in COVID-19 was 156,579 on Friday.
Lopez Obrador, speaking publicly for the first time since he revealed on Sunday that he had COVID-19, said Mexico will also receive 870,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in February.
In addition, Lopez Obrador said that 1.8 million doses of vaccine will arrive next month through a UN-backed mechanism, an apparent reference to COVAX’s global facility.
Mexico has secured enough vaccines to cover 20% of its 126 million inhabitants through COVAX, led by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the World Health Organization to promote equitable access.
Six million doses of the CanSino Biologics vaccine, which is expected to release its clinical trial results soon, are due to arrive in Mexico in February, said Lopez Obrador.
It would also be “no problem” for Mexico to receive 12 million doses of the Chinese vaccine in March, he added.
(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison and Sharay Angulo; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)