在墨西哥 ， 俄罗斯疫苗外交的窗口正在关闭

Summary: Mexico's Experience with Russia's Vaccine Diplomacy

Background:

Russia has historically engaged with Latin American countries like Mexico, aiming to establish partnerships and expand its influence in the region, particularly in economic, political, and defense sectors. This engagement has been marked by symbolic cooperation and limited trade and investment, with a focus on specific sectors such as aviation, fertilizers, and hydrocarbons.

Key Event: Sputnik V Deal

In early 2021, during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico was presented with an opportunity to diversify its international relationships by accepting 24 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia. This offer aligned with López Obrador's strategy to reduce economic and foreign policy dependence on the United States. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) initiated the deal by providing a marketing incentive, followed by a formal agreement to sell 32 million doses to Mexico.

Challenges and Outcomes:

Despite initial enthusiasm, the Sputnik V deal faced significant challenges. Regulatory approval processes were rushed, with Mexico's Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) pressured to expedite the approval for the vaccine, despite concerns over missing data from stage-three clinical trials. This led to a controversial decision to sign a large deal for an unapproved vaccine, with concerns over political interference in the regulatory process and the vaccine's safety.

Delivery Delays:

The delivery of the promised Sputnik V doses to Mexico was delayed due to global manufacturing issues and logistical challenges. As of May 2021, only about 1.9 million of the promised 24 million doses had arrived on schedule, necessitating Mexico to seek alternative solutions. The Mexican state-owned pharmaceutical company, Birmex, was tasked with addressing the shortfall by establishing a local, finish-and-fill bottling operation for the Russian vaccine. However, the process was fraught with delays, and by March 2022, the local bottling of Sputnik V had not commenced, with Russia failing to transfer the vaccine technology and Birmex unable to build a production facility.

Impact of Global Events:

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has further complicated the global rollout of Sputnik V, potentially exacerbating existing challenges for its distribution, especially given new US and EU sanctions against RDIF.

Conclusion:

Mexico's experience with Russia's vaccine diplomacy highlights the complexities and challenges associated with international vaccine procurement, particularly when relying on non-traditional sources. The rushed deal, coupled with delivery delays and the impact of global events, underscores the need for robust regulatory frameworks and reliable supply chains in vaccine procurement.