Information by US Embassy in Guatemala
Today, Charge D’ Affaires Daniel Fennell joined Minister of Health Amelia Flores at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City to receive a donation of an additional 3 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to Guatemala. This second shipment adds to the 1.5 million doses shipped to Guatemala on July 8 to reach a total donation of 4.5 million doses of vaccine in the past two weeks and is part of over $26 million in bilateral pandemic assistance to Guatemala — including Personal Protection Equipment, freezers, testing capacity, tents and equipment — since the start of the pandemic. As President Biden has said, “America will be the arsenal of vaccines in our fight against COVID-19.” Notably, USAID has provided more than $6 million in supplies and direct technical assistance to the Ministry of Health for coordination, planning and logistical efforts during various phases of the pandemic. Most recently, this includes efforts to help the Ministry of Health increase the number of Guatemalans registering for vaccines. The direct bilateral vaccine donation arrived aboard a specially-conditioned American Airlines plane, which departed Chicago on Thursday afternoon, July 20.
“As a partner country and friend of Guatemala, it is our desire to offer Guatemalans the possibility of getting vaccinated, to contain this virus and so that they can resume their professional and personal lives," said Charge D´Affaires Daniel Fennell.
These 3 million doses are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to share U.S. vaccines with the world. As the United States continues to fight COVID-19 around the world, President Biden has pledged that the United States will be an arsenal of vaccines for the world. As President Biden said, "The United States will be an arsenal of vaccines in our fight against COVID-19. We are proud to be able to deliver these safe and effective vaccines to the people."
After landing in La Aurora, the vaccine shipment will be housed in freezers donated last week by the U.S. Government to the Ministry of Health’s biological warehouse in Guatemala City. This vaccine donation by the U.S. Government is a part of a broader strategy to combat the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
