Brazil approves emergency use of Sinovac and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, rollout begins

Brazil’s health regulator on January 17 approved emergency use of two COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sivac and AstraZeneca-Oxford and has kickstarted vaccination campaign in nation. Despite vel coronavirus immunisation being subjected to delays and political disputes in Brazil, nation has currently secured at least six million doses of vaccine developed by China’s Sivac Biotech Ltd, CoronaVac. As per Associated Press report, while CoronaVac is rey for roll-out, Brazil is awaiting at least two million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford’s vaccine. 

Calling it a “good news for Brazil”, El Maciel, an epidemiologist at Federal University of Espirito Santo hailed approval of vaccines but ted that 6 million doses are “very few” for entire population. Latin American nation with a population of nearly 210 million, is still unclear about how it will secure more vaccines, especially when demand for jabs is high and production is limited. Several nations have begun mass vaccination drives and have approved almost as much as three vaccines to effectively immunise population amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This is good news for Brazil, but 6 million doses are still very few. It will t allow entire population at risk to be fully immunized, r is it clear how quickly country will obtain more vaccines,” said El Maciel.

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Brazil rejected Russia’s Sputnik V against COVID-19

As per reports, late on January 16, Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa h rejected application for use of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V that was submitted by a Brazilian firm União Química. Anvisa reportedly said that application of Russian vaccine failed to meet minimum requirement to start an analysis. Vaccinations in Brazil are beginning after its neighbours Argentina and Chile began roll-out.

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immunisation in nation was finally started on Sunday despite conflicts surrounding issue including allies of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro casting doubt on efficacy of Sivac dose that was backed by his rival, Sao Paulo state’s Gov. João Doria. This tiff, according to Maurício Santoro, professor of political science at University of State of Rio de Janeiro “prevented any cooperative work.” vaccination drive began in a ceremony held by Doria starting with a 54-year-old nurse working on frontline of pandemic in nation, Mônica Calazans who h even volunteered in CoronaVac clinical trial.

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