Brazil signs deal to produce experimental virus vaccine

Brazilian government anunced on Saturday an agreement with Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to produce a promising coronavirus vaccine that is undergoing tests.

Brazilian Health Ministry authorities said in a press conference that country will pay $127 million and receive material to produce 30.4 million doses in two batches in December and January, which would allow it to quickly start iculation efforts if vaccine is certified to be safe and effective.

total deal is for 100 million vaccines for a country of about 210 million residents. It will be produced by local vaccine maker Fiocruz.

first to get Oxford shot would be high-risk groups such as elderly, people with comorbidities and health and security professionals.

Arnaldo Correia de Medeiros, secretary of health surveillance, said distribution will be fast because of Brazil’s public health care system. “This country has extensive experience in extremely fast vaccination”, he said.

British researchers started testing experimental shot in May aiming to immunize more than 10,000 people, including older people and children. vaccine is one of about a dozen in early sts of human testing.

Brazil, where coronavirus infections are still on rise, counts more than 1 million confirmed cases and more than 55,900 fatalities.

Vijay Rangarajan, British ambassor to Brazil, told Associated Press on Tuesday vaccine maker has capacity to produce 2 billion doses in its first batch, which is expected by end of year. But much of that global production is alrey purchased.

On May 21, United States anunced a deal for at least 300 million doses of Oxford shot and committed up to $1.2 billion to effort. On June 13, AstraZeneca agreed to supply up to 400 million doses of experimental vaccine to European Union nations. Or negotiations are ongoing with Russia and Japan, among or countries, company’s CEO said this month.

Ar experimental vaccine in development by Chinese company Sivac Biotech will be tested in Brazil in July, according to Sao Paulo state government. Sivac has a deal with state’s Instituto Butantan to produce it. Some 9,000 Brazilians are expected to participate.