Why Latin America needs a regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Abstract

Home to about 8·2% of the global population, Latin America experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19. The region reported 80 million COVID-19 cases and 1·7 million deaths, representing 10% and 25% of global figures.1 Latin America accounts for the highest loss of years of life expectancy at birth in 2021 versus 2019.2 There was scarce collaboration between Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, hindering the effective use of regional resources, including missed opportunities for coordinated negotiation and procurement of diagnostic tests, medications, ventilators, vaccines, and other medical supplies.