Brazil to receive 629,000 Pfizer vaccine doses on Wednesday (May 26)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – To date, 2.8 million vaccine doses have been delivered to the Brazilian government in 4 shipments. Pfizer issued a statement in which it reiterates its commitment to deliver 200 million doses by the end of 2021.

A 5th batch with 629,000 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses is scheduled to reach Brazil on Wednesday, May 26, in a flight bound to land at Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas (SP), around 7 PM.

So far, 2.8 million of the 200 million doses contracted by the federal government have reached the country. In a note, Pfizer reiterates its commitment to meet the schedule that provides for the delivery of vaccines by the end of 2021.

The aircraft with 629,460 doses should take off from Miami (USA) at around 10:25 AM. Once the aircraft lands at Viracopos, a Federal Police security detail is responsible for monitoring the unloading and transport of vaccines to the Ministry of Health’s distribution center in Guarulhos (SP).

All vaccine shipments, so far, have been delivered through Viracopos Airport. The first 1 million doses batch was delivered to the country on April 29, in a ceremony attended by Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga.

The second batch with 629,000 doses was delivered on May 5, while another 628,000 doses, from the 3rd batch, arrived on May 12. The 4th batch, with another 629,000 doses, landed at the Campinas terminal on May 19.

Special conditions

Pfizer’s doses need to be stored in boxes with temperatures ranging from -25°C to -15°C for a maximum of 14 days. In 2020, the company reported having developed a special temperature-controlled packaging that uses dry ice to maintain the recommended storage condition.

Upon arrival at vaccination rooms, the doses will be stored at a temperature ranging from 2°C to 8°C, and need to be administered to the population within a period of up to 5 days.

Background

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been the target of rejection and controversy within the federal government. Last year, 3 formal offers for the sale of 70 million doses were made by the company and were not answered by the Ministry of Health.

In December, the Ministry of Health’s Health Surveillance secretary Arnaldo Medeiros ruled out buying the vaccine because of the low temperature storage requirement.

The vaccine was the first to be granted definitive health registration by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), in February this year.

The vaccine can be administered to people from 16 years of age, in 2 doses, with a 21-day interval between them.