Uruguay advances towards its integration into the Regional Vaccine Bank: the key tool to accelerate the health response

At a time when South America is redefining its strategy in the face of foot-and-mouth disease, Uruguay is preparing to make a decision that could mark a before and after in its health response capacity: joining the Regional Vaccine Bank (BANVACO). The platform, currently made up of Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia, is undergoing a process of technical and financial strengthening that aims to consolidate it as a pillar of regional protection. The issue was at the center of the Regional Workshop held in Asunción, where a special session of PANAFTOSA delved into the functioning and relevance of this instrument. The discussion left a strong message: when it comes to foot-and-mouth disease, the speed of reaction is everything. In this sense, Uruguay's entry into BANVACO would allow for antigens and vaccines to be formulated in a short period of time, even for serotypes for which the country does not immunize—Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2, and SAT 3—and whose entry represents a real health ...