COVID-19 vaccine production and the technological gap in the Global South: The cases of Argentina and Brazil

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of the global vaccine manufacturing landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the shift from concentrated production within a few Western transnational corporations to the rising prominence of emerging economies, particularly China and India. We propose a four-tier framework for categorizing vaccine production capacity: developed countries, emerging countries, stagnant middle-income countries, and low-income nations. Our analysis explores the global COVID-19 vaccine market and examines the diverse strategies employed by Argentina and Brazil—two nations that pursued domestic vaccine production while navigating intense global competition for market access. Argentina’s pharmaceutical sector, characterized by predominant privatization, pursued vaccine development through technology transfers from AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and CanSino to local private companies. Concurrently, Argentina launched the ARVAC Cecilia Grierson vaccine through a public-private partnership. In contrast, Brazil’s approach relied heavily on public institutions, including Fiocruz and the Butantan Institute, combined with technology transfers from international partners such as AstraZeneca and Sinovac Biotech. Brazil is currently conducting clinical trials for its domestically developed SpiN-Tec vaccine, which offers significant logistical advantages. Our analysis reveals that both countries faced substantial challenges in maintaining vaccine access and production capabilities. The persistent technological gap has resulted in continued dependence on foreign imports, undermining their capacity to compete effectively in the international vaccine market. Despite notable achievements in vaccine development and production, the experiences of Argentina and Brazil exemplify the structural difficulties faced by stagnant middle-income nations in achieving vaccine self-sufficiency and technological sovereignty in pharmaceutical manufacturing.