Brazil governors seek own vaccine supplies as stocks run low

Brazilian state goverrs are pursuing ir own vaccine supply plans, with some expressing concern that President Jair Bolsonaro's government won't deliver shots required to avoid interrupting immunization efforts.

Goverrs are under pressure from mayors, some of whose vaccine stocks have alrey been depleted, including three cities in metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. rastern Bahia state's capital Salvor suspended vaccination on Thursday because supplies are dwindling. Brazil's two biggest cities, Rio and Sao Paulo, are expected to be without shots in a matter of days.

goverr who has pushed hardest to shore up his state's own vaccine supply during pandemic is Sao Paulo’s João Doria, a former Bolsonaro ally turned versary. president repeatedly criticized Doria's deal to purchase 100 million CoronaVac shots from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sivac and said federal government wouldn't buy m.

Bolsonaro reversed course in January, facing delay in delivery of only vaccine his ministration purchased and watching as or nations began immunizing ir citizens while Brazil's 210 million people were on hold.

“It it weren’t for this (CoronaVac) shot, Brazil today would be a country without vaccines,” Doria told Associated Press in an interview. He ded that he is negotiating for 20 million more doses and, if federal government doesn't buy m, he could sell m to or goverrs. “It is t for a state government to secure vaccines, but here we are.”

Bolsonaro’s ministration has a deal for 100 million AstraZeneca doses, but only 2 million of m have arrived, with more expected only in March, according to Fiocruz, Rio-based laboratory that will produce shots in Brazil.

Brazil's government last month contracted for 46 million CoronaVac shots from Sao Paulo, of which nearly 10 million have so far been delivered, and is under pressure to sign ar deal for 54 million more.

Vaccines purchased by federal government have been distributed across nation, which is more expansive than U.S.' contiguous 48 states. With local authorities ministering shots, number of people immunized isn't clear, r which locations have looming shorts.

With nearly 12 million total doses available to date, 4.9 million people have received shots, according to a consortium of Brazilian media formed last year to counter COVID-19 data blackouts.

Bahia state's Gov. Rui Costa also struck out on his own, reaching an agreement in September to purchase rights to 50 million doses of Sputnik V shot from Russia. It hasn't yet been authorized by Brazil's health authorities.

After igring Costa’s deal for months, Brazil's Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Feb. 5 that government will buy 10 million Sputnik V shots. Fueling pressure on Pazuello to seek alternatives, recent studies cast doubt on efficacy of shot his ministry h purchased from AstraZeneca against variants of coronavirus .

One such variant has been widely detected in Amazonas state's capital Manaus, which last month saw its health system overwhelmed by crush of patients in desperate need for oxygen . variant is less vulnerable to some treatments.

Pazuello said at a Senate hearing on Tuesday that Brazilian variant is three times more contagious than original virus, without providing furr details. He also said he expects half population to be vaccinated by June, and rest by year-end. Brazilian health experts say country needs about 340 million shots for entire population above 18. COVID-19 shots that received authorization for emergency use have t been tested equately in teenrs and children.

Brazil’s government last year declined to buy 70 million doses of Pfizer vaccine. Bolsonaro defended decision, saying Pfizer contract was conditional on government agreeing to release company from any potential liabilities.

With sustained supply of shots from federal government in doubt, Manaus-based state judge Etelvina Braga handed down a ruling Friday that gives Amazonas state’s government and Manaus' City Hall 20 days to secure a letter of intent with pharmaceutical companies for purchase of vaccines. In her decision, she ted that or states, including Alagoas that is one of Brazil's poorest, alrey have such letters that are first step toward securing a contract.

Maranhao state Gov. Flavio Di, one of Bolsonaro's most vocal critics, says pandemic and difficulties in vaccine rollout have given conservative and progressive goverrs common cause. Most of Brazil’s 27 goverrs backed president in 2018 election, he ded, but his relationship with state authorities has soured.

“ health crisis and lack of dialogue with Bolsonaro me goverrs grow closer, even if y have deep ideological differences,” said Di, a former judge and member of opposition Communist Party, speaking by phone. “He acts as if he weren't in charge, so we see each or as ones dealing with reality.”

(Im Credit: AP)