link to page 1 
Updated November 15, 2021
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is
Vaccines Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC),
having widespread economic, social, and political effects
launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to provide donor-
on Latin America and the Caribbean. As of November 12,
funded vaccines for low- and middle-income economies.
2021, the region had over 46 million confirmed cases
Table 1. COVID-19 Deaths, Mortality Rates, and
(18.3% of cases worldwide) and more than 1.5 million
Vaccinations in Latin American & Caribbean
deaths (30.1% of deaths worldwide). Brazil, Mexico, Peru,
(countries with more than 1,000 deaths, as of Nov. 12, 2021)
Colombia, and Argentina had the region’s highest numbers
of deaths. Looking at deaths per 100,000 people, Peru had
Fully
the highest recorded COVID-19 mortality rate in the region,
Deaths per
Vaccinated
followed by Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay
Country
Deaths
100,000
(percentage)
(see Table 1).
Brazil
610,224
289.14
59.80
In its November 10, 2021, weekly press briefing on the
pandemic, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Mexico
290,630
227.81
49.29
reported that COVID-19 infections, after declining over the
Peru
200,554
616.89
48.78
past two months, were increasing in some countries in the
Americas. In South America, PAHO reported increased
Colombia
127,680
253.64
44.20
cases in parts of Colombia and Bolivia and noted that, in
Argentina
116,209
258.59
60.04
Southern Cone countries, there was an upward trend in
cases after public health measures had been relaxed. In the
Chile
37,917
200.07
82.34
Caribbean, PAHO reported rising cases in Barbados, the
Ecuador
32,989
189.88
59.54
Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago and noted
Dominica was experiencing a high number of cases.
Bolivia
18,998
165.01
33.99
Paraguay
16,273
231.00
33.79
Since the start of the pandemic, PAHO’s director has
expressed concern about the poor and other vulnerable
Guatemala
15,627
94.12
21.10
groups at greatest risk, including those living in the
Amazon Basin, particularly Indigenous communities;
Honduras
10,349
106.19
35.43
women, who comprise 70% of the health workforce; people
Cuba
8,278
73.04
69.56
of African descent; migrants in temporary settlements; and
prisoners in crowded jails.
Panama
7,338
172.80
56.17
Costa Rica
7,190
142.45
57.90
The rollout of vaccines has varied considerably. According
to PAHO’s director, as of November 10, 2021, 48% of the
Uruguay
6,097
176.13
76.03
population of Latin America and the Caribbean had been
Venezuela
4,996
17.52
32.51
fully vaccinated, although coverage was significantly lower
in almost half of the region’s countries. Chile and Uruguay
Dom. Rep.
4,158
38.72
50.59
were leaders in the region, with 76%-82% of their
El Salvador
3,709
57.47
61.47
populations fully vaccinated as of November 12. Countries
with less than 20% of their populations fully vaccinated
Jamaica
2,302
78.08
15.74
included Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and St. Vincent and the
Trinidad &
Grenadines. Of these, Haiti had the lowest rate in the
1,818
130.33
44.68
Tobago
hemisphere, with less than 1% fully vaccinated.
Suriname
1,126
193.68
35.94
PAHO has helped countries prepare for vaccine rollout and
has facilitated access to vaccines through the COVID-19
Total LAC
1,528,417
—
—
Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility, a mechanism
Sources: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Coronavirus
developed by global health organizations to facilitate
Resource Center, “Vaccination Progress Across the World,” at
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international, and “Mortality
equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines; 22 countries
Analyses,” at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality, Nov. 12, 2021.
in the region have signed agreements to access vaccines
through the facility. In addition, 10 countries in the
Note: Peru revised its official COVID-19 death toll in May 2021 to
region—Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana,
account for excess deaths attributed to COVID-19 not previously
Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and
counted, which tripled the country’s reported death toll.
the Grenadines—are eligible to benefit from the COVID-19
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
Latin American and Caribbean countries have been
Economic factors include stagnant or declining growth;
acquiring COVID-19 vaccines from a variety of sources. As
high levels of inequality and poverty; and inadequate public
of November 12, PAHO reported that over 69 million doses
services, social safety net programs, and advancement
had been delivered or were in transit through COVAX, with
opportunities. The pandemic exacerbated these factors,
almost 20 million provided through country donations,
contributing to increased protests in the region since late
including the United States. Vaccine deliveries through
2020. In 2021, pandemic-related protests have erupted in
COVAX have been slower than expected, due to supply
several countries, notably in Colombia, Cuba, and Brazil.
problems and other challenges, but have more than doubled
Human rights groups and other observers also have
since August 2021 and are expected to accelerate in the
expressed concern about leaders taking advantage of the
weeks ahead. Many countries also have signed commercial
pandemic to advance their own agendas and restrict
agreements with pharmaceutical companies. Both China
freedom of expression.
and Russia have largely sold, and in some cases donated,
COVID-19 vaccines to countries in the region, and the
U.S. Policy Considerations
United States ramped up donations beginning in June 2021
Congress has provided some $17 billion in international
(see below). In terms of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing
affairs funding (through two FY2020 supplemental
in the region, Cuba has developed and produced three
appropriations measures, P.L. 116-123 and P.L. 116-136;
vaccines, two Brazilian companies have manufactured
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, P.L. 116-260;
some COVID-19 vaccines, and two other companies from
and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2) to
Brazil and Chile announced plans to manufacture vaccines
help countries worldwide respond to COVID-19. The
in 2022. In August 2021, PAHO announced a program to
funding supports global health interventions, humanitarian
boost COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in the region.
assistance, and contributions to multilateral efforts. For
example, P.L. 116-260 included $4 billion as a contribution
Economic Impact
to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports COVAX
In the October 2021 update of its World Economic Outlook,
AMC and coordinates implementation of the COVAX
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported a 7.0%
Facility, both of which benefit Latin American and
economic contraction for Latin America and the Caribbean
Caribbean countries. Through FY2021, the U.S. Agency for
in 2020. Caribbean nations that depend on tourism had deep
International Development had obligated or committed
economic recessions, several with estimated economic
$482.4 million of supplemental assistance to support the
declines over 15% in 2020. Several South American nations
region’s pandemic response. Congress is now considering
hard-hit by the pandemic registered economic contractions
the Biden Administration’s FY2022 budget request, which
over 10%. Most countries in the region are expected to
would provide nearly $2.1 billion of aid to help the region
begin recovery in 2021, with the IMF projecting 6.3%
recover from the pandemic and address other challenges.
regional economic growth. Yet, economic recovery may be
a protracted process in countries that rely heavily on global
Some Members of Congress have called for President
trade and investment. Moreover, the course of the
Biden to prioritize Latin America and the Caribbean in
pandemic, including governments’ responses and vaccine
donating COVID-19 vaccines. The Biden Administration
availability and distribution, is an important factor in the
has pledged to donate over 1.1 billion vaccine doses of
region’s recovery.
globally. The vaccines are being provided bilaterally and
through the COVAX Facility and COVAX AMC. As of
The regional economic contraction in 2020 increased
November 7, 2021, the United States had delivered almost
poverty and exacerbated income inequality. Latin America
50 million vaccine doses to 30 Western Hemisphere
already was the most unequal region in the world in terms
countries (including Canada), according to the State
of income. A March 2021 U.N. Economic Commission for
Department (at https://www.state.gov/covid-19-recovery/
Latin America and the Caribbean report estimated 22
vaccine-deliveries/). Top recipients include Mexico (11
million people in Latin America moved into poverty in
million); Colombia (6 million); Guatemala (4.5 million);
2020, with poverty rising to 33.7% from 30.5% in 2019.
Honduras (3.9 million); Argentina (3.5 million); El
Salvador (3.2 million); Brazil (3 million); Bolivia (2.2
Numerous countries in the region have implemented relief
million); Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru (2 million each);
programs to help protect their economies and vulnerable
Haiti (0.6 million); and Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay
populations, and many have needed external financing to do
(0.5 million each). In August 2021, the State Department
so. In response, the IMF, Inter-American Development
announced it would donate nearly 5.5 million vaccine doses
Bank, and World Bank, significantly increased lending to
to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries; to date,
countries in the region.
almost half of that has been delivered.
Political Impact
Some Members have argued for and against a proposal at
Even before the pandemic, public satisfaction with the
the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property
quality of democracy in several Latin American and
rights for COVID-19 vaccines. In May 2021, the
Caribbean countries was eroding. Several broad political
Administration announced its support for negotiating such a
and economic factors drove the decline and help explain the
waiver due to the pandemic’s extraordinary circumstances.
eruption of social protests in the region in 2019. Political
The proposal is backed by more than 100 countries but has
factors include an increase in authoritarian practices, weak
yet to be adopted, due to opposition from the European
democratic institutions, politicized judicial systems,
Union and others.
corruption, and high levels of crime and violence.
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Latin America and the Caribbean: Impact of COVID-19
IF11581
Peter J. Meyer, Specialist in Latin American and Canadian
Affairs
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11581 · VERSION 23 · UPDATED