Mexico focused on producing its own vaccine

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Mexico could soon close a contract for European pharmaceutical companies to produce vaccines and medicines in Mexico, a senior official declared, as the Latin American country aims to be better prepared for future health crises.

Mexico ranks fifth globally in COVID-19 deaths and faced significant delays in obtaining vaccines against the highly-contagious virus.

“We don’t want the next pandemic, which could be tomorrow or 100 years from now, to catch us off guard,” said Iker Jimenez, head of global investment at Mexico’s foreign ministry.

Jimenez said in an interview late on Monday that the deal with the European Commission could be finalized in November or December, and would aim to convert Mexico into a regional hub for producing and packaging selected vaccines and medicines.

While Jimenez said he could not reveal the companies involved, Europe is home to pharmaceutical giants including AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Janssen, owned by Johnson & Johnson.

In June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the bloc’s desire to promote vaccine and medicine production in Latin America by investing more in the region.

Source: El Financiero

Mexico Daily Post