PAHO's Director-General, Dr. Carissa Etienne.

Havana, January 12 (RHC)-- The director-general of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Clarissa F. Etienne, highlighted on Wednesday in Washington, Cuba's anti-Covid-19 vaccination rate is among the highest in the world and also mentioned those of countries in the region such as Chile and Argentina.

She told a press conference that America is working diligently to secure the drugs it needs to protect its populations.

"Thanks to their efforts, almost 60 percent of the people in Latin America and the Caribbean received fully two doses of the developed biologics," the authority acknowledged.

She asserted that vaccines are helping to save lives and considered that expanding equitable coverage everywhere remains PAHO's priority.

Experts are calling for immunization strategies "optimized for the prevention of serious diseases, including the specific use of booster shots," Etienne stressed.

PAHO's Director-General warned that the continent's ability to respond to and overcome this pandemic depends on those working in health centers, clinics, and primary hospitals.

Provided sufficient vaccine is available, he urged that priority be given to health care workers to receive an additional dose of vaccine against the disease.

"Additional doses are safe and effective and will help strengthen the ability to resist exposure to the virus," he expounded.

Finally, he referred to the fight for vaccine equity, support for the sector's personnel, individual responsibility to avoid transmission but asserted that solidarity would pave the way out of the pandemic.