Thank you for that excellent question.
Low demand is not necessarily an optimistic sign. It's a complex challenge. The doses are available. If Haiti wants to access doses through COVAX, they could be there in a few weeks.
Low vaccination rates are not the result of a shortage of doses; rather, they are the result of a lack of demand and the limited health care capacity in those countries. I repeat, the doses are available. Nearly five billion doses have been made available through the COVAX facility this year. It is now necessary and urgent to work with those countries to ensure, not only that the political demand exists and logistical capacity is in place, but also that the population wants to be vaccinated against COVID‑19. The misinformation and lack of demand in many communities is significant.
That is why we are working with partners such as the WHO and PAHO. We want to make sure that governments in the region, including those in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, have access to comprehensive supports so they can work with their populations. That way, when more requests for vaccine access start coming in, the necessary capacity will be in place. The doses are available now.