‘All and Any Vaccine Is Discarded,’ Says Bolsonaro After Controversy with São Paulo Governor

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Wednesday morning, October 21st, President Jair Bolsonaro ruled out the purchase of any vaccines by the government until their efficacy is proven.

“Any and all vaccines are ruled out for now. A vaccine needs scientific verification to be applied, it’s not like hodroxicloroquine”.

The statement was made during a visit to the Navy Technological Center (CTMSP) facilities in Iperó (126 km from São Paulo). He was joined by the head of the Institutional Security Office, General Augusto Heleno, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Marcos Pontes.

Minister of Health Eduardo Pazuello had announced on Tuesday, October 19th, an investment of R$2.6 billion to include an additional 46 million doses of the Coronavac, a vaccine from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac, in the immunization program. In Brazil, it is produced by the Butantan Institute.

“The Butantan vaccine will be Brazil’s vaccine,” said Pazuello in a teleconference with governors. “The Butantan is currently the largest vaccine manufacturer for the Ministry of Health, producing 75 percent of the vaccines we purchase.”

However, Bolsonaro yesterday blamed the announcement on São Paulo Governor João Doria, who attended the meeting. He said that the announced amount is “considerable” and that he is in tune with the Ministry of Health “in the search for a reliable vaccine”.

However, the President also said he had ordered the cancellation of a letter of intent by the Ministry, which addressed the purchase of the vaccine. “I will not relinquish my authority.”

On October 19th, Minister Eduardo Pazuello sent the Director General of the Butantan Institute, Dimas Covas, a letter confirming the intent to purchase of 46 million doses of the CoronaVac. “Anything other than this is speculation and political game,” he said. “The population is already absorbed with terrorism speeches since the start of the pandemic. We went after the vaccine, earlier on we allocated resources to Oxford, not to buy the vaccine, but rather to take part in its research and development, with a vaccine quota for us. Nothing will now be spent on a Chinese vaccine that I don’t know about.”

Earlier, the President had criticized the Coronavac when he attacked São Paulo Governor João Doria. The two are engaged in a public debate over its compulsory administration.

Currently, Brazil has four vaccine trials in progress. In addition to Sinovac, there is one being developed in a partnership between Oxford University and AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical company, which will be produced by Fiocruz. Brazil’s Health Regulation Agency ANVISA has also approved clinical trials of a vaccine being developed by Pfizer and another by Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson&Johnson.

Source: Folhapress

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